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INAUGURAL    ADDRESS 


OF 


HUGH    O'BEIEN, 


MAYOR    OF    BOSTON, 


BEFORE 


THE    CITY    COUNCIL, 


JANUARY    4,    1886. 


>STON   Ci  ■  ■  Aid 

CHESTJSUT  KlLl^  MASS. 
BOSTON: 

ROCKWELL   AND    CHURCHILL,   CITY    PRINTERS, 

No.    39     Arch     Street. 

1886. 


55887 


OITT    OF    BOSTON. 


In  Board  of  Aldermen,  Jan.  7,  1886. 

Ordered,  That  His  Elonor  the  Mayor  be  requested  to 
furnish  a  copy  of  his  Inaugural  Address,  and  that  the 
same  be  printed  as  a  City  Document,  and  in  the  volume 
of  Proceedings  of  the  City  Council. 

Passed  in  Common  Council,  January  4,  1886.  Came  up 
for  concurrence.  Concurred.  Approved  by  the  Mayor, 
January  8,    1886. 

A  true  copy. 

Attest : 

JOHN  T.  PRIEST, 

Assistant  City  Clerk. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2011  with  funding  from 

Boston  Library  Consortium  Member  Libraries 


http://www.archive.org/details/inauguraladdressOOobri 


ADDRESS. 


Gentlemen  of  the    City    Council :  — 

To-day  we  assemble  to  take  charge  of  an  im- 
portant trust,  placed  in  our  hands  by  our  fellow- 
citizens.  On  our  joint  action,  in  a  great  degree, 
the  growth  and  prosperity  of  the  city  depend. 
Let  peace  and  harmony  prevail  in  our  councils. 
Let  us  not  forget  that  our  city  stands  at  the 
head  of  municipal  governments.  The  reputation 
of  our  public  school  system  must  be  maintained. 
The  health  of  the  city  must  be  preserved.  Our 
business  and  manufacturing  industries  must  be 
promoted  and  encouraged.  We  must  have  effi- 
cient fire  and  police  departments.  We  want  good 
streets,  good  sewerage,  and  pure  water.  ^Our 
poor,  our  insane,  and  our  criminals  must  be  taken 
eare  of  and  provided  for.  You  will  be  called 
upon  during  the  year  to  consider  questions  in- 
volving all  these  interests,  requiring  large  expen- 
ditures of  money,  and  every  appropriation  should 
be  closely  scrutinized  and  fully  considered.  As 
the  legislative   branch    it   is    your    duty  to   furnish 


6  MAYOR'S    ADDRESS. 

the  means,  and  as  the  executive  branch  it  is 
my  duty  to  see  that  what  money  you  ap- 
propriate is  properly,  economically,  and  faithfully 
expended. 

The  new  departure  will  be  in  full  force  during 
the  year,  and  if  our  work  is  done  as  it  ought  to  be 
done,  free  from  all  selfish  purposes,  the  year  1886 
will  be  a  memorable  one  in  our  municipal  history. 
The  fact  that  aldermen  are  elected  by  districts  and 
councilmen  by  wards  should  have  no  'weight  with 
you.  The  entire  city  is  under  your  charge,  and 
every  district  and  every  ward  should  be  fairly  and 
equitably  dealt  with.  I  have  no  hesitation  in  say- 
ing here,  what  I  have  said  many  times  before,  that 
aldermanic  districts  are  no  improvement  on  our  old 
municipal  system  of  electing  aldermen  at  large. 
If  the  members  of  the  Common  Council  look  only 
after  the  interests  of  the  wards  they  represent, 
and  the  aldermen  after  their  districts,  we  can 
scarcely  expect  that  loyalty  to  all  sections  of  the 
city  which  is  so  desirable  in  a  city  government. 

The  new  City  Charter  places  great  respon- 
sibility on  the  Mayor  of  Boston.  The  faithful 
performance  of  his  duty  requires  good  judgment, 
close  attention  to  business,  a  thorough  knowledge 
of  the  work,  and  courage  and  determination  in 
its   performance.      If   the    Mayor   stops  waste  and 


MAYOR'S    ADDRESS.  7 

extravagance  he  makes  determined  and  unscru- 
pulous enemies  of  men  whose  sole  object  is 
public  plunder,  and  who  do  not  hesitate  to  resort 
to  any  means  to  accomplish  their  ends.  Regard- 
less of  threats,  regardless  sometimes  of  adverse 
criticism  from  parties  who  do  not  understand  the 
true  facts,  I  have  given  no  quarter  the  last  year 
to  any  who  have  abused  the  trusts  confided  to 
them,  and  with  such  an  emphatic  indorsement 
from  my  fellow-citizens  I  feel  encouraged  to  go 
on  with  the  work.  Political  tricksters,  who  have 
merely  some  selfish  purpose  to  gratify,  will  receive 
no  countenance  from  me  no  matter  what  party 
they  may  be  identified  with  for  the  time  being. 
It  is  by  yielding  to  these  men,  on  account  of 
the  few  votes  that  they  control,  that  municipal 
governments,  in  all  the  large  cities  of  the  country, 
have  become  a  synonyme  for  waste  and  extrava- 
gance and  corruption.  This  is  strong  language, 
but  I  know  that  every  word  of  it  is  true.  If 
political  parties  put  unscrupulous  men  to  the 
front  they  ought  to  be  voted  down.  If  political 
parties  make  combinations  with  men  whose  morality 
and  integrity  are  questionable,  such  combinations 
should  be  discouraged  and  discountenanced  by 
every  good  citizen.  If  no  quarter  is  given  to 
men   who   have    no   moral    principle   behind   them, 


8  MAYOR'S     ADDRESS. 

who  connect  themselves  with  leading  parties 
merely  for  plunder,  they  will  soon  be  stamped 
out,  and  the  business  of  the  city  will  be  con- 
ducted like  any  other  large  corporation,  on 
business  principles.  I  believe  that  the  new  charter 
will  accomplish  this  work,  if  faithfully  administered. 

This  charter  went  into  operation  on  the  26th  of 
last  June.  It  cannot  be  said  to  have  had  a  fair 
trial  as  yet.  Most  of  the  heads  of  departments  have 
cheerfully  conformed  to  the  new  order  of  things, 
and  hold  more  independent  positions  than  under 
the  old  charter,  when  directed  and  controlled  by 
committees.  They  are  required  to  do  all  work  in 
a  substantial  and  economical  manner,  and  live 
within  the  limits  of  their  appropriations.  As  long 
as  they  do  this  their  tenure  of  office  should  be 
secure.  The  departments  are  no  longer  political 
machines,  but  must  be  run,  like  any  other  cor- 
poration in  the  city,  solely  on  business  principles. 

I  repeat,  that  the  City  Charter  has  hardly  had  a 
fair  trial  during  the  past  six  months,  because  an 
unusual  percentage  of  last  year's  appropriation  was 
placed,  early  in  the  financial  year,  by  contract  or 
otherwise,  before  it  went  into  operation.  This  was 
rather  embarrassing  to  commence  with,  but  the 
difficulty  has  been  met  and  overcome.  I  know 
that   a   large  sum  of  money  has  already  been  saved. 


MAYOR'S     ADDRESS.  9 

Contracts  have  been  given  to  the  lowest  responsible 
bidders  in  all  instances,  and  supplies  have  been 
purchased  at  the  lowest  market  rates.  I  might 
make  a  comparison  with  previous  years,  but  it 
is  sufficient  to  say  that,  with  a  tax-rate  of  $12.80 
per  $1,000,  all  necessary  work  has  been  per- 
formed. The  coming  year  the  charter  will  have 
full  force,  and,  if  faithful  and  honest  work  is 
done  in  the  departments,  the  results  cannot  help 
being  a  substantial  gain  to  the  city.  I  cannot 
recommend  any  alteration  or  change  at  present. 
If  defects  exist,  time  will  develop  them  more 
fully.  It  places  power  in  the  hands  of  the  Mayor 
to  hold  even  the  City  Council  in  check,  if  that 
body  is  derelict  in  the  performance  of  their  duty, 
and,  if  the  Mayor  is  a  true  Bostonian,  he  will 
not   hesitate   to   take   the   responsibility. 

The  following  table  shows  the  amount  of  the 
transfers  made  by  order  of  the  City  Council 
during  the  past  ten  years,  the  amount  added  to 
the  regular  appropriations,  and  the  percentage  of 
these   additions   to   the   total   of    transfers:  — 


10 


MAYOE'S    ADDRESS. 


Tear. 

Total  of 
Transfers. 

Transfers  to 
Regular  Appropriations. 

Percentage. 

1875-76 

$714,880  97 

$255,459  40 

35.7 

1876-77 

418,398  54 

129,298  24 

30.9 

1877-78 

211,167  50 

121,823  02 

58. 

1878-79 

171,404  32 

135,484  75 

71.5 

1879-80 

342,187  07 

241,597  81 

70.6 

1880-81 

270,314  35 

192,174  25 

71. 

1881-82 

229,659  07 

165,124  38 

71.9 

1882-83 

261,010  11 

158,803  08 

60.8 

1883-84 

279,497  96 

127,413  42 

45.8 

1884-85 

282,266  87 

143,010  71 

50.7 

THE    CITY   DEBT. 

Gross   funded   debt,    Dec.    31,    1884  . 
Add   funded   debt   issued    in   1885 


Deduct   funded   debt  paid   in    1885    . 


.  $42,981,934  91 
.      1,742,700  00 

$44,724,634  91 
.       1,307,689  07 


Gross   debt,    Dec.  31,  1885         ....  $43,416,945  84 

Sinking-funds,   Dec.   31,   1884    .  $17,845,950  12 
Receipts  during   1885  .         .       1,861,633  64 


Payments   during   1885 

Difference  in  settlement  of  Den- 
nie  deficit 


$19,707,583  76 
1,320,439  45 


$18,387,144  31 


39,234  38 


Amounts  carried  forward,        $18,347,909  93  $43,416,945  84 


MAYOR'S     ADDRESS.  11 

Amounts  brought  forward,       $18,347,909  93  $43,416,945  84 
Bonds  and  mortgages,   the   pay- 
ments  of    which    are    pledged 
to  the  payment   of   debt  .  369,021   62 


Total    redemption   means,    Dec.  31,  1885  .         .     18,716,931  55 


Net   debt,  Dec.  31,  1885 $24,700,014  29 


Gross   debt,  Dec.    31,   1885        ....  $43,416,945  84 
Gross   debt,    Dec.    31,  1884        ....     42,981,934  91 


Increase $435,010  93 


Net   debt,    Dec.    31,   1884 $24,766,064  27 

Net  debt,    Dec.    31,  1885  .....    24,700,014  29 


Decrease $66,049  98 


City   debt,    including  balance  of  debts  assumed 

by  acts  of  annexation     .  .  .  .          .  $29,367,471  86 

Cochituate   Water   debt       .  .  .  .    13,210,473  98 

Mystic   Water   debt    .         .  .  .  .         .          839,000  00 


$43,416,945  84 


Loans  authorized,  but  not  issued,  by  City  Council  of  1883 :  — 

Library  Building,  Dartmouth   st.    and  St.  James 

ave. $440,000  00 


Amount  carried  forward,  $440,000  00 


12 


MAYOR'S     ADDRESS 


Amount  brought  forward, 

By   City    Council   of    1884:- 

Additional   supply   of   water 
High-service 


By    City   Council   of    1885:  — 

Improved   Sewerage    . 
Extension   of   mains,    etc.  . 
Home   for   Paupers 


$440,000  00 


$150,000  00 
549,000  00 


$100,000  00 

100,000  00 

80,000  00 


699,000  00 


280,000  00 


$1,419,000  00 


At   the  present  time   the  assumed  debts  remaining   unpaid    are, 
on    account   of : — 


6% 
5% 
4% 


Charlestown  city'   . 

.      $1,002,000  00,  1 

)ear 

Mystic   water 

.  $716,000  00 

n 

tt              a 

.    108,000  00 

u 

it              u 

.      15,000  00 

u 

Ouv.uUU      \J\J 

$1,841,000  00 

West   Roxbury     . 

140,000  00 

a 

$1,981,000  00 

7% 


The   net  debt   for   eleven   years   compares   as   follows :  — 
December  31,  1885 $24,700,014  29 


December  31,  1884 
December  31,  1883 


24,766,064  27 
25,311,635  52 


MAYOR'S    ADDRESS 


13 


December  31,  1882 

December  31,  1881 

December  31,  1880 

December  31,  1879 

December  31,   1878 

December  31,  1877 

December  31,   1876 

December  31,  1875 

$24,381,025  02 
24,248,046  60 
26,658,456  41 
26,097,783  05 
26,184,171  42 
26,855,464  94 
28,376,362  24 
28,752,635  02 


It  will  be  seen  that  the  net  debt  is  now  about 
$4,000,000  less  than  in  1875,  and  that  since  that 
date  important  and  expensive  public  improvements 
have  been  carried  on,  notably  :  improved  sewerage, 
the  Sudbury-river  water  supply,  including  a  new 
conduit,  the  establishment  of  parks,  besides  large 
expenditures  for  construction.  This  speaks  well 
for   the   financial   condition    of  the   city. 

TAXATION. FINANCE. 

The  tax  levy  last  year  was  made  up  as  fol- 
lows :  — 


Appropriated 
Estimated   income 


Add  4  per  cent. 
Total  tax  levy     ■ 


$10,608,100 
2,804,550 

$7,803,550 
312,142 

$8,115,692 


14:  MAYOR'S     ADDRESS. 

The  following  is  an  estimate  for  the  coming 
year,  based  on  last  year's  income,  interest,  and 
sinking-fund    requirements :  — 

Outside   limit  of   appropriation     .         .  .         .       $10,713,751 

Estimated   income         ......  2,804,550 


$7,907,201 
Add   4  per   cent.  ......  316,368 


Probable   tax   levy $8,225,569 

These  figures  show  that  the  City  Government 
will  have  to  be  run  economically  the  coming 
year  to  keep  within  the  limit,  and  that  the  ex- 
penses of  departments  must  be  cut  down  to  the 
lowest  possible  figures.  The  highest  amount  that 
can  be  taxed  in  the  next  year  cannot  now  be 
definitely  determined,  because  of  the  lack  of  an 
estimate  of  income.  An  estimate  of  the  receipts 
from  taxation  and  income  on  investments  of  the 
sinking-funds,  exclusive  of  water-debt  funds,  dur- 
ing  1886,  is   $1,350,000. 

By  Chapter  178,  Acts  of  1885,  the  limit  of  tax- 
ation, exclusive  of  State  tax  and  the  require- 
ments of  the  debt,  was  fixed  at  $9,  on  a  basis 
of  the  average  valuation  for  five  years,  while,  by 
Chapter  312,  Acts  of  1885,  the  limit  for  other  cities 


MAYOR'S    ADDRESS. 


15 


was  fixed  at  $12,  on  a  basis  of  the  average  valua- 
tion for  three  years.  Another  item  in  favor  of 
the  outside  cities  was  the  exemption  of  the  county 
tax,  which,  with  Boston  for  the  last  year,  was 
$375,000,  and  this,  less  estimate  of  county  in- 
come, was  27  cents  of  the  tax-rate  of  $12.80 
of  the  present  year.  Notwithstanding  all  this 
special  legislation,  so  far  as  Boston  is  concerned, 
I  am  satisfied  our  municipal  work  can  be  done 
within  the   limit. 

The  valuation  of  the  city,  the  new  property 
built  up,  and  the  tax-rate,  since  January,  1874, 
has   been   as   follows:  — 


Year. 

1874 
1875 
1876 
1877 
1878 
1879 
1880 
1881 
1882 
1883 
1884 
1885 


Assessors' 

Estimated  Value  of 

Valuation. 

New  Buildings. 

Tax-Rate. 

$798,755,050 

$16,797,735 

$15.60 

793,961,895 

10,546,520 

13.70 

748,996,210 

6,727,130 

12.70 

686,840,586 

5,332,365    . 

13.10 

630,446,866 

3,447,655 

12.80 

613,322,691 

2,266,084 

12.50 

639,462,495 

1,964,852 

15.20 

665,554,597 

2,208,496 

13.90 

672,497,961 

7,311,918 

15.10 

682,432,671 

7,535,383 

14.50 

682,648,000 

8,298,970 

17.00 

685,404,600 

12,963,630 

12.80 

16  MAYOR'S    ADDRESS. 

Taxation  now  has  a  limit;  the  indebtedness 
of  the  city  has  a  limit,  and  the  citizens  of  Boston 
have  an  assurance  that  in  no  year  in  the  future 
can  taxation  be  unreasonable  or  our  indebtedness 
exceed  two  per  cent,  on  valuation.  This,  I  am 
confident,  gives  us  an  ample  margin.  The  law 
limiting  indebtedness  was  imperfect  without  a 
similar  law  limiting  taxation.  With  these  safe- 
guards the  financial  condition  of  the  city  is 
beyond  question  now  or  in  the  future.  It  was 
very  gratifying  to  know  that  no  other  city  in 
the  Commonwealth  could  carry  on  its  munici- 
pal work  on  so  small  a  margin  as  the  city 
of  Boston.  This  was  quite  manifest  during  the 
discussion  in  the  Legislature  last  year.  In  New 
York  the  limit  of  indebtedness  is  ten  per  cent, 
on  the  assessed  valuation  of  real  estate  subject 
to  taxation,  and  with  this  limit  that  city  finds 
it  difficult  to  carry  on  the  large  improvements 
now   in   progress. 

Some  years  ago,  when  I  had  the  honor  to 
call  attention  to  the  necessity  of  a  law  limiting 
taxation  in  the  Board  of  Aldermen,  and  offered 
an  order  to  petition  the  Legislature  for  such  a 
law,  it  was  voted  down  almost  unanimously;  but 
I  am  now  satisfied  that  every  large  city  in  the 
country  will   be    compelled    to   follow   the    example 


MAYOR'S     ADDRESS.  17 

of  Boston,  and  ask  for  similar  laws  to  check 
municipal  taxation  and  municipal  indebtedness. 
These  checks,  however,  do  not  prevent  waste  or 
extravagance.  No  matter  how  large  or  small  our 
annual  appropriation  may  be,  it  can  be  wasted 
by  incompetent  or  unscrupulous  heads  of  depart- 
ments, unless  checked  by  the  Mayor  with  all  the 
force  and  power  conferred  upon  him  by  the  new 
charter. 

I  shall  always  consider  it  a  great  honor  that 
a  Republican  Legislature  intrusted  me  with  such 
great  power.  I  have  also  received  excellent  advice 
and  encouragement,  during  the  year,  not  only  from 
the  press,  but  from  some  of  our  best  citizens  and 
largest  tax-payers,  and  I  trust  that  this  advice 
and  support  will  be  continued  during  the  coming 
year.  I  have  endeavored  to  enforce  the  law  dis- 
creetly   and   firmly. 

Some  sections  of  our  city  are  growing  rapidly, 
notably  the  Back  Bay  district,  Dorchester,  and 
West  Eoxbury,  and  require  large  expenditures 
for  streets  and  sewers.  When  capitalists  are 
ready  to  plant  large  sums  of  money  in  improve- 
ments, adding  very  materially  to  our  taxable 
property,  it  is  the  duty  of  the  city  to  encourage 
them  by  providing  good  streets,  sewerage,  water, 
and  other  improvements  that  are  under  our  charge. 


18  MAYOK'S    ADDKESS. 

For  every  dollar  judiciously  expended  in  this  way 
the  city  treasury  is  benefited  by  an  increased 
amount  of  taxable  property.  Some  of  the  im- 
provements demanded  are  large  and  costly,  and 
would  be  embarrassing  if  placed  in  the  tax  levy. 
These  improvements  should  be  commenced  on 
some  systematic  plan,  and  not  as  a  temporary 
expedient.  n  the  past,  sewers  have  been  built 
without  giving  due  consideration  to  the  subject, 
and  the  consequence  has  been  that  we  have  been 
creating  nuisances  instead  of  remedying  them. 
To  meet  this  demand  it  has  been  found  neces- 
sary to  do  some  of  this  work  by  a  loan  rather 
than  to  check  building  operations  and  the  growth 
of  the  city  for  the  time  being.  It  is  wise  policy 
to  pay  as  we  go  for  all  necessary  improvements; 
but  when  they  are  costly  and  permanent  there 
is  no  good  reason  why  the  tax-payers  of  to-day 
should  pay  for  the  entire  work.  It  should  be 
remembered,  also,  that  our  limit  of  indebtedness 
is  a  check  and  safeguard  on  these  loans.  If  we 
could  pay  off  our  debts  without  incurring  new 
loans,  and,  at  the  same  time,  carry  on  all  the 
improvements  required  for  a  city  that  is  growing 
rapidly,  our  financial  condition  would  be  perfect. 
I  am  satisfied,  however,  that,  notwithstanding  all 
the     improvements     in     contemplation,    there     will 


MAYOR'S     ADDRESS.  19 

be  a  material  reduction  in  our  debt  during  the 
next   ten   years. 

I  am  aware  that  the  delay  in  widening  Boylston 
street  has  already  interfered  with  building  opera- 
tions. It  has  also  prevented  us  from  building  a 
police-station  and  an  engine-house,  so  necessary  for 
the  safety  of  that  section,  for  which  an  appropria- 
tion has  already  been  made.  Now  that  the  money 
has  been  obtained  the  work  on  the  Boylston-street 
extension,  and  also  the  Beacon-street  extension, 
will  be  commenced  in  earnest  as  soon  as  the 
weather  will  permit.  Humboldt  avenue  was  laid 
out  nearly  three  years  ago,  the  owners  of  prop- 
erty contributing  the  land.  The  property  on  the 
line  of  that  avenue  has  been  assessed  at  a  higher 
valuation,  on  account  of  the  contemplated  improve- 
ments, and  the  owners  of  property  have  been 
put  to  great  distress  because  they  could  neither 
sell  their  land  nor  erect  buildings  until  the  city 
lived  up  to  their  agreement.  Good  reasons  can 
be  given  for  all  the  improvements  contemplated 
in  the  loan  passed  at  the  close  of  the  year,  but  the 
way  in  which  it  was  engineered  through  the 
Council,  and  the  amount  of  trading  to  obtain  the 
necessary  two-thirds  vote,  was,  to  say  the  least, 
highly    objectionable. 

The    banks    in    the     city   of    Boston,    with   the 


20  MAYOE'S    ADDKESS. 

exception   of  six,   have   paid   the   tax   assessed    by 
authority     of    the    laws   of      this    Commonwealth, 
for   the    year   1885,     under    protest,    alleging   that 
the   tax   assessed    on   them    was   not    at  the   same 
rate    assessed    on    similar    moneyed   capital.      The 
total   amount   of   bank   tax   received   and   paid   by 
the    Collector    to   the    City   Treasurer    was   $773,- 
478.40;    of  this   sum,   $720,723.20  was   paid  under 
protest;     $35,685.52    received    from     those     banks 
which   made   no  protests,   less  commission   for   col- 
lecting,  has    been   paid   by   the   City   Treasurer   to 
the    State,   leaving    due   the     State     of    Massachu- 
setts    $547,193.98    received    with    protests,    which 
payment   has    been   withholden   from   the    State   by 
the  City  Treasurer,   under   advice  of  the  Corpora- 
tion  Counsel;   and   the    State  Treasurer,   in  conse- 
quence,  withholds  the  payment   to  the  city  of  the 
corporation   tax,   bank    tax   from    other    cities  and 
towns,    w  the    tax    on   vessels    engaged   in    foreign 
trade,"   and    a   portion    of    the    reimbursement   of 
the    amount    paid    by   the     city    for   State    aid   to 
soldiers,  etc.,  in   all  about  the  same  amount  which 
the   city   withholds.      It   has   prevented   the   settle- 
ment  of   the    accounts   between    the   treasurers   of 
our   city   and    the    State.     The    counsel   having   in 
charge   the   suits  of  protest  will,  it  is  understood, 
press   them   for   trial.     Therefore,   it   will   probably 


MAYOR'S     ADDRESS.  21 

be  some  time  before  the  final  decision  of  the  same 
will  be  reached.  In  the  meantime  the  Legislature 
of  our  State  will  undoubtedly,  at  its  coming  ses- 
sion, devise  means  by  which  the  moneys  can  be 
paid  by  the  city,  and  the  city  receive  the  amount 
due  it  from  the  State,  and  protection  guaranteed 
from  loss  if  any  money  is  recovered  from  the 
city  in   the    suits   brought   by   the   banks. 

While  on  the  subject  of  taxation  I  cannot  help 
again  alluding  to  the  taxation  of  our  manufactur- 
ing and  industrial  pursuits.  In  my  inaugural  last 
year  I  stated  that  "there  are  many  manufacturers 
whose  salesrooms  and  warehouses  are  in  Boston,  but 
who  manufacture  their  goods  in  other  places,  for 
the  reason  that  not  only  are  the  tax-rates  lower, 
but  they  are  also  able  to  make  arrangements  with 
the  local  assessors  for  a  certain  definite  valuation 
of  their  property.  It  would  be  more  convenient 
for  them  to  manufacture  their  goods  in  Boston, 
but  the  high  rate,  with  the  excessive  valuation, 
prevents.  It  is  well  worth  considering  whether  it 
would  not  be  wise  policy  to  revise  the  methods 
of  assessment  so  as  to  draw  these  manufacturers 
into  the  city.  .  .  .  The  extent  of  our  de- 
pendence on  neighboring  States  for  many  articles 
of  large  consumption  can  scarcely  be  realized. 
If  we  could  guarantee  lower  rates  of  taxation,  and 


22  MAYOR'S     ADDRESS. 

a  cheaper  supply  of  water  for  manufacturing  ur- 
poses,  I  am  satisfied  it  would  build  up  our  industrial 
and  manufacturing  interests,  and  largely  increase 
the  wealth  of  the  city."  I  consider  this  a  matter  of 
great  importance,  and  the  question  should  be  agitated 
until  the  necessary  reforms  are  brought  about. 

The  City  Treasurer  has  so  managed  his  de- 
partment that  he  was  enabled  to  meet  all  the 
payments  of  the  city  of  Boston  during  the  year, 
with  the  promptness  which  has  always  character- 
ized its  financial  affairs,  by  borrowing  the  smallest 
amount  of  temporary  loan,  in  anticipation  of  the  taxes, 
since  1880,  —  viz.,  $1,300,000,  —  at  the  lowest  rate 
money  has  ever  been  borrowed  by  the  city  of  Bos- 
ton, the  rate  being  two  per  cent,  per  annum.  The 
time  for  the  principal  portion  of  it  was  four  months. 

THE     COLLECTORS    DEPARTMENT. 

The  Collector's  department  has  done  excellent 
work  during  the  year,  and  I  feel  that  particular 
attention  ought  to  be  called  to  it.  The  collection 
of  taxes  shows  a  large  increase  in  percentage 
over  any  previous  year  for  thirty-one  years;  but 
what  is  most  noticeable  is  the  collection  of  sewer 
assessments,  amounting  to  $82,286.95,  against 
$13,198.41  last  year.  By  a  special  message  early 
in  the   year   I   called  attention   to  this  matter,    nd 


MAYOR'S     ADDRESS.  23 

it  is  gratifying  to  know  that  it  produced  such 
good  results.  The  collections  for  the  previous 
ten  years  were  only  $196,736.56.  The  collections 
this  year  in  nine  months  have  been  $82,286.95, 
and  before  the  close  of  the  financial  year  the 
amount  may  equal  one-half  the  amount  collected 
the  previous  ten  years.  The  assessments  levied 
in  the  ten  years  referred  to  were  $539,795.48; 
the  amount  collected  $196,736.56,  —  leaving  a 
balance  of  $343,058.92  to  account  for.  What 
has  become  of  this  large  sum?  Has  it  been 
abated?  It  appears  to  me  a  matter  that  ought 
to  bo  looked  into   and  all  the  facts  ascertained. 

The  assessments  committed  to  the  Collector  for 
the  current  financial  year,  beginning  May  1, 
1885,   amount  to   $10,097,397.41. 

Of  this  amount  there  has  been  collected  to 
December  1,  1885,  $7,807,441.75,  or  77A  per  cent.; 
abated,  $84,643.76,  or  ■&  of  1  per  cent.;  and  re- 
mains uncollected,  $2,205,311.90,  or   21 A  per  cent. 

This  amount  committed  includes  the  State,  City, 
and  County  tax  of  1885,  $8,815,787.24,  of  which, 
to  December  19,  1885,  $7,232,415.58  has  been 
collected;  bank  tax,  $773,478.40,  all  of  which  has 
been  paid;  and  sewer  assessments,  $123,274.59, 
of  which,  to  December  19,  1885,  $82,286.95  has 
been    collected.       The    percentage    of    taxes    and 


24 


MAYOR'S    ADDRESS. 


sewer   assessments   collected   this   year   greatly   ex- 
ceeds  that   of    any  other   year   to    the    same   time. 

The  total  amount  of  collections  for  the  eleven  months, 
beginning  January  1,  1885,  and  ending  November  30,  1885, 
is    $12,466,535.08,    divided   as    follows:  — 


From   Taxes 

Cochituate    Water- Works 

Liquor   Licenses 

Mystic   Water- Works 

East  Boston   Ferries 

Rents 

Public   Institutions 

County   of  Suffolk 

Sewer   Department 

Interest    . 

Betterments 

Health   Department 

Bonds 

City   Hospital  . 

Street  Department 

School   Instructors 

Overseers   of   the  Poor 

All   other  sources     . 


59,375,116  57 

1,252,842  43 

507,595  00 

281,834  86 

143,208  60 

134,314  96 

105,270  15 

97,575  65 

92,240  22 

65,037  35 

54,532  68 

40,276  51 

40,221  51 

32,600  29 

32,693  30 

30,598  10 

30,005  99 

150,570  91 


The  change  in  the  ordinances  transferring  the 
entire  labor  of  the  collection  of  water-rates  to 
the  Collector's  department  will  require  an  ad- 
ditional appropriation  for  extra  clerk-hire.  The 
additional   expense   is    estimated   at    $2,000.      This 


MAYOR'S     ADDRESS. 


25 


will  be  chargeable  to  the  revenues  from  Cochituate 
and  Mystic  water-rates,  and  may  be  considered 
in  the  light  of  a  transfer,  and  not  as  an  additional 
expense.  The  work  has  formerly  been  done  in  the 
office  of  the  Water  Registrar. 

The  annual  increase  of  business,  the  demands 
for  the  proper  accommodation  of  the  public,  and 
care  of  the  records  and  accounts,  require  a  much 
larger  room  for  this  department.  I  do  not  see 
how  this  can  at  present  be  allowed,  but  I  have 
taken  the  liberty  of  calling  attention  to  the  sub- 
ject as  among  the  most  imperative  prospective 
wants    of  the    department. 

Sewers,  —  Assessed   and    Collected. 


From  May  1, 

Assessed. 

Collected 

Tc 

> 

1875 

.  $123,388  77 

$32,472  04 

May  1, 

1876 

1876 

.   101,983  60 

33,172 

49 

k 

1877 

1877 

38,095  36 

13,398 

27 

u 

1878 

1878 

33,575  79 

12,375 

91 

(( 

1879 

1879 

22,141  89 

10,196 

72 

u 

1880 

1880 

42,986  60 

18,692 

23 

(t 

1881 

1881 

68,973  75 

32,021 

21 

(( 

1882 

1882 

65,677  21 

30,075 

31 

u 

1883 

1883 

37,174  38 

16,764 

96 

it 

1884 

1884 

23,761  09 

13,198 

41 

a 

1885 

1885 

123,274  59 

82,286 

95 

Dec.  19, 

1885 

$681,033  03 

$294,654 

50 

26  MAYOR'S    ADDRESS. 

PERCENTAGES     OF     TAXES     COLLECTED. 

The  following  table  shows  the  percentages  of 
taxes  collected  to  Dec.  1  of  each  respective  year, 
for  the   following   years:  — 


1855, 

56. 

1863, 

52. 

1871, 

39. 

1879, 

69 

1856, 

55. 

1864, 

50. 

1872, 

56. 

1880, 

72 

1857, 

45.5. 

1865, 

54. 

1873, 

68. 

1881, 

73 

1858, 

54.5. 

1866, 

55. 

1874, 

52. 

1882, 

71 

1859, 

54. 

1867, 

50. 

1875, 

59. 

1883, 

72 

1860, 

46. 

1868, 

49. 

1876, 

63. 

1884, 

73 

1861, 

47. 

1869, 

43. 

1877, 

64. 

1885, 

76 

1862, 

51. 

1870, 

42. 

1878, 

69. 

THE    GROWTH    OF    THE    CITY. 

The  population  of  Boston  in  1860  was  177,840; 
in  1870,  including  mnnicipalities  annexed,  292,499; 
in  1875,  by  State  census,  341,912;  in  1880,  by 
United  States  census,  362,839;  and  in  1885,  by 
State  census,  390,406.  The  last  census  was  a 
surprise  to  our  citizens,  and  also  to  experts,  who, 
from  year  to  year,  keep  well  informed  on  this 
subject.  The  work  was  done  under  the  direc- 
tion of  Carroll  D.  Wright,  Esq.,  a  gentleman  of 
large  experience  in  collecting  such  information, 
and  whose  intelligence  and  ability  cannot  be  ques- 
tioned.    This   will   stand   as  the  official  census  for 


MAYOR'S    ADDRESS.  27 

the  next  ten  years.  Some  months  ago  I  called 
the  attention  of  the  City  Council  to  this  matter, 
and  suggested  that  we  had  material  connected 
with  the  City  Government  to  ascertain  our  popu- 
lation at  a  very  small  expense.  I  had  an  inter- 
view with  the  Chairman  of  the  Board  of  Police 
Commissioners,  and  also  with  the  chairman  of  the 
Board  of  Assessors,  and  they  agreed  to  under- 
take the  work  if  the  City  Council  would  appro- 
priate $1,000  to  print  proper  blanks  and  to  pay 
clerical  assistance.  These  blanks  would  have  been 
placed  in  the  hands  of  our  large  police  force,  and 
in  a  very  few  days  the  facts  could  be  collected, 
and  then  the  clerical  force  in  the  assessors' 
department  would  aggregate  the  returns.  I  believe 
that  this  would  be  an  easy  and  economical  way 
of  obtaining  the  population  of  the  city  at  inter- 
vals, apart  from  any  State  or  United  States  census. 
It  would  not  interfere  with  the  regular  duties  of 
the  police,  and  would  be  desirable  information  to 
obtain.  The  last  City  Council,  however,  refused 
to  appropriate  the  $1,000  asked  for.  I  still  believe 
the  work  ought  to  be  done,  and  recommend  it  to 
your  favorable  consideration.  The  population  of 
our  city  has  been  estimated  as  high  as  425,000, 
or  near  35,000  more  than  the  recent  official 
census. 


28  MAYOR'S    ADDRESS. 

SURVEY   OF   VACANT   LANDS. 

The  growth  of  the  city  also  calls  my  attention 
to  another  important  matter.  In  my  inaugural 
address  of  last  year  I  stated  that  there  were 
large  tracts  of  vacant  land  in  the  outlying  dis- 
tricts not  yet  improved,  and  recommended  that  a 
survey  be  made  and  a  comprehensive  plan  of 
prospective  streets  be  adopted  for  those  districts. 
If  found  necessary,  additional  legislation  should 
be  obtained  to  authorize  the  city  to  carry  out 
such  an  improvement.  Although  no  special  sur- 
vey has  been  made  for  this  purpose  during  the 
year,  one  step  in  furtherance  of  it  has  been 
taken  in  the  right  direction.  Plans  have  been 
prepared  by  the  City  Surveyor  showing  several 
proposed  systems  of  streets  through  vacant  land 
in  the  suburban  districts,  which  plans  are  on  file 
in  the  Surveyor's  office,  where  they  may  be  ex- 
amined by  parties  interested.  These  plans  are 
intended  only  to  be  preliminary  to  more  accurate 
ones  which  will  follow,  and  are  subject,  of  course, 
to  modification  from  time  to  time,  as  circum- 
stances shall  warrant.  They  have  been  drawn  for 
the  purpose  of  enabling  the  city  and  the  owners 
of  lands  to  cooperate  in  laying  out  a  systematic 
plan   of  streets.     It   is   hoped    that   the    land-own- 


MAYOR'S     ADDRESS.  29 

ers  will  see  it  for  their  interest  to  meet  the  city 
fairly  in  so  important  an  improvement,  otherwise 
it  may  be  necessary  to  ask  for  additional  legis- 
lation to  enable  the  city  to  carry  ont  such  an 
improved   system    of  streets. 

VACANCIES   IN"   DEPARTMENTS. 

One  of  the  most  difficult  and  perplexing  duties 
the  Mayor  has  to  perform  is  the  selection  of 
proper  heads  of  departments  to  fill  vacancies 
caused  by  dismissal,  resignation,  or  death.  A 
vacancy  no  sooner  occurs  than  large  numbers 
apply  for  the  position,  some  of  them  entirely 
incompetent.  They  are  indorsed  by  numerous 
friends,  and  the  Mayor  has  no  peace  until  the 
vacancy  is  filled.  I  have  offered  positions  to  men 
who  have  had  all  the  requisite  business  qualifi- 
cations and  experience  for  the  work,  but  have 
found  it  a  very  difficult  matter  to  obtain  their 
services.  The  risk  of  confirmation  is  also  a  bar 
against  acceptance.  Such  men  generally  do  better 
in  business  outside  of  city  employment.  The 
salaries  paid  city  officials  will  not  command  the 
best  business  talent,  and  the  uncertain  tenure  of 
office  is  also  a  bar  against  the  acceptance  of  such 
positions.  There  is  no  work  done  by  the  Mayor 
that    is    so    much    criticised    as    his    appointments. 


30  MAYOR'S     ADDRESS. 

"Why  don't  he  select  men  who  are  well-known 
engineers,  financiers,  and  business  managers? — is  a 
question  that  is  frequently  asked, — men  who  have 
already  made  their  mark  in  the  community?  Few 
of  these  men  would  look  at  a  position  in  City 
Hall  with  the  salaries  now  attached  to  them.  We 
have  had  some  of  the  best  engineers  in  the 
country  connected  with  the  building  of  our  Water- 
Works  and  Improved  Sewerage,  but  their  services 
have  been  lost  to  the  city  because  they  were  found 
to  be  far  more  valuable  elsewhere.  Even  Mr. 
Wightman,  if  he  had  lived,  would  not  have  re- 
mained City  Engineer  for  any  length  of  time, 
because  I  am  aware  that  he  was  offered  almost 
double    the    amount   of   salary   elsewhere. 

When  our  present  young  City  Engineer  builds 
up  a  reputation  his  services  will  also  be  in  de- 
mand. Take  any  one  of  our  departments  ex- 
pending $1,000,000  per  year,  what  business  man 
of  large  experience  will  take  charge  of  it  for 
the  salary  paid''  You  are  forced  to  take  younger 
men,  of  untried  ability,  energy,  and  integrity;  but 
in  many  instances  these  men  are  objected  to  by 
the  confirming  power  because  their  capacity  has 
not  been  developed  by  practical  business  experi- 
ence. Honesty  and  integrity  are  essential  require- 
ments   at    the    head    of     every     department,     but 


MAYOK'S    ADDEESS.  31 

business  ability  is  also  a  necessity.  Incompe- 
tent men,  no  matter  how  honest  they  may  be, 
will  demoralize  any  department,  and  are  expensive 
men  to  the  city,  even  if  their  services  were  given 
gratuitously. 

Take,  for  instance,  our  Improved  Sewerage,  one 
of  the  greatest  works  of  engineering  in  this  country, 
and  requiring  great  engineering  skill  in  its  manage- 
ment. This  work  was  placed  under  the  Super- 
intendent of  Sewers,  last  year,  by  a  vote  of  one 
branch  of  the  City  Council,  and  referred  to  the 
next  city  government  at  the  end  of  the  year  by 
the  other  branch.  The  salary  of  the  Superintend- 
ent of  Sewers  is  only  $3,500  per  year,  when 
engineers  in  almost  every  city  in  the  country 
obtain   from   $6,000   to   $10,000    per   year. 

THE    KEW   COURT-HOUSE   FOR    SUFFOLK   COUNTY. 

The  commissioners  appointed  by  authority  of 
the  City  Council  in  February  last  to  make  pre- 
liminary arrangements  for  the  erection  of  a  new 
court-house  for  Suffolk  county  were  in  the 
following  month  of  June  vested  by  the  Legisla- 
ture with  the  power  to  take  land,  with  the  ap- 
proval of  the  Mayor,  and  to  erect  thereon  a 
court-house    for    the    use    of    the    courts    of    the 


32  MAYOR'S    ADDRESS. 

Commonwealth     within     and     for    the     county    of 
Suffolk. 

Acting  under  this  authority  the  commissioners, 
on  the  3d  day  of  August,  took,  in  Pemberton 
square  and  Somerset  street,  twenty-one  estates, 
containing  72,502  square  feet  of  land,  the  assessed 
value  of  which  was  $685,400.  To  guide  them 
in  their  settlements  with  the  owners  of  the  property 
taken  the  commissioners  had  a  careful  appraisal 
made  of  the  same  by  five  competent  experts  in 
the   value   of   real   estate. 

Of  the  72,502  feet  of  land  taken  payment  has 
been  made  for  37,418  feet,  the  assessed  value  of 
which  was  $324,900,  while  the  appraised  value 
was  $368,900,  and  the  amount  paid  by  the  com- 
missioner to  the  owners,  $368,740;  the  owners  in 
all  cases  giving  deeds  to  the  city  and  paying 
the   taxes    assessed   for  the    current   financial  year. 

To  meet  the  expenditures,  in  part,  for  this  long- 
needed  public  building  a  loan  of  $850,000, 
having  fifty  years  to  run,  was  negotiated  at 
three  per  cent,  interest,  and  one-fiftieth  of  the 
principal  was  made  payable  annually,  instead 
of  accumulating  the  usual  sinking-fund  for  the 
payment  of  the  debt  at  maturity.  A  further 
loan  of  $1,000,000  will  be  required  as  the 
work    progresses  ;    and,    by   authority    of   the   last 


MAYOR'S     ADDRESS.  33 

City  Council,  the  Legislature  will  be  asked  at  its 
coming  session  to  grant  authority  to  the  city  to 
exclude  from  the  operations  of  the  law  relating 
to  municipal  indebtedness  the  amount  of  the  Suf- 
folk county  court-house  loans,  as  is  the  case 
with  loans  for  county  buildings  in  other  portions 
of  the    State. 

The  general  plans  for  the  new  structure  are 
nearly  completed,  and  it  is  expected  that  the 
demolition  of  the  buildings  now  on  the  site  will 
commence    early   in   the    coming    spring. 

The  plans  for  the  new  building  do  not  make 
provision  for  the  Registry  of  Deeds  or  Probate 
Court. 

I  am  confident  that  the  work  done  by  the 
Court-House  Commission  has  been  excellent,  that 
good  progress  has  been  made,  and  that  a  new 
court-house,    so    long   wanted,  is   now  a  fixed  fact. 

THE    DIVISION    OF   WARDS. 

It  was  the  duty  of  the  City  Council  of  1885 
to  make  the  decennial  division  of  the  city  into 
new  wards.  This  division  becomes  necessary  be- 
cause the  voting  population  of  the  city  during 
each  ten  years  has  been  extremely  migratory. 
The  southern  wards  have  gained  largely  and  the 
northern  wards  have  diminished.     Hence  it  becomes 


34:  MAYOR'S    ADDRESS. 

necessary,  as  often  as  once  in  ten  years,  to  be- 
gin with  a  new  apportionment  into  wards  of  equal 
size.  Heretofore  the  city  has  been  allowed  to 
make  its  own  census,  but  on  this  occasion  the 
figures  w^ere  collected  by  the  Bureau  of  Statistics 
of  Labor.  The  result  was  that  the  census  returns 
were  not  received  by  the  City  Clerk  until  October, 
instead  of  July,  as  in  previous  years;  but  I  am 
not  aware  that  any  real  harm  ensued.  The  basis 
of  returns  rendered,  nearly  90,000  legal  voters, 
seems  large  in  view  of  the  registered  vote  of  the 
city;  but  it  was  fixed  by  law  and  was  beyond 
our  control.  It  is  the  same  throughout  the  State, 
and  gives  Boston  a  proper  representation  propor- 
tionately in  the  House,  the  Senate,  and  the 
Council. 

The  ordinance  passed  by  the  last  City  Council 
accordingly  divided  the  city  into  twenty-four 
wards,  as  nearly  equal  in  the  number  of  legal 
voters  as  could  be  arranged.  I  find  not  only 
this  rule  has  been  followed,  but  that  the  new 
wards  are  substantially  the  old  ones,  even  to  the 
matter  of  the  numbering.  As  compared  with 
previous  divisions  there  is  much  less  change,  and 
the  convenience  of  the  public  will  be  greatly 
subserved  by  the  conservative  action  of  the 
Council. 


MAYOR'S     ADDRESS.  35 

Finding,  therefore,  that  the  wards  were  uniform 
in  population,  except  Charlestown  and  East  Boston, 
bounded  by  wide  and  prominent  streets,  and  more 
compact  and  convenient  than  those  of  the  pre- 
vious division,  I  approved  the  ordinance.  I  have 
regarded  it  as  no  part  of  my  duty  to  consider 
the  political  effect  of  this  division.  The  law  does 
not  put  that  duty  upon  me,  nor  is  the  public 
interest  affected  by  it.  I  should  have  unhesitat- 
ingly vetoed  any  improper  division,  any  attempt 
to  gerrymander  the  city.  But  in  the  present 
ordinance  I  see  no  such  improper  aim.  So  long 
as  the  wards  are  equal  in  population  and  compact 
in  boundaries  I  have  no  right  to  inquire  into 
the  political  preferences  of  the  voters.  If  all  of 
the  members  of  one  political  party  choose  to  dwell 
in  certain  portions  of  the  city  I  presume  that 
their  reasons  are  satisfactory.  So  long  as  every 
citizen  has  an  uninterrupted *  opportunity  to  vote, 
so  long  as  he  is  free  every  year  to  select  his 
residence,  with  a  view  to  the  exercise  of  his 
power  as  a  voter,  I  hold  it  to  be  my  duty  to 
regard  the  ward  lines  as  a  part  of  our  municipal 
system  founded  solely  upon  the  requirements  of  law. 

I  have  heard  many  comments  on  this  division, 
but  I  have  failed  to  notice  any  definite  proof  of 
injustice  or  bad  intent.     Vague  charges  should  be 


36  MAYOR'S    ADDRESS. 

entirely  put  aside,  for  no  man  or  set  of  men  can 
do  any  injury  in  a  case  of  this  kind  unless  the 
result  be  immediately  apparent. 

I  may  even  venture  to  add  that,  should  the 
result  of  this  division  be  as  usual  the  breaking  up 
of  old  political  cliques  and  combinations,  the  city 
will  be  a  gainer.  The  greatest  curse  of  popular 
government  is  the  apathy  of  the  individual  voter. 
The  long  continuance  of  ward  lines  is  apt  to  lead 
to  the  management  of  political  affairs  by  local 
committees.  Ward  meetings  are  cut  and  dried; 
candidates  are  selected  by  secret  cliques;  and  the 
voter  who  wishes  only  the  public  good  becomes 
disgusted  and  ceases  to  attend  to  .his  duties.  The 
outcry  against  the  present  division,  as  in  former 
cases,  proceeds  entirely  from  the  politicians.  After 
an  election  in  which  party  lines  have  been  so 
largely  disregarded,  I  may  be  allowed  to  ask  the 
public  to  continue  to  rely  upon  their  own  judg- 
ment, and  not  to  discredit  the  apparently  honest 
work  of  last  year  upon  the  random  assertions  of 
interested   witnesses. 

It  has  even  been  threatened  that  an  appeal  will 
be  made  to  the  Legislature  to  set  aside  the  ordi- 
nance. As  chief  magistrate  of  this  great  city  I 
deprecate  any  such  course.  Boston  has  already 
suffered  in  the  past  from   the   unwise  course    of  a 


MAYOR'S     ADDRESS.  37 

minority  influential  at  the  State-House.  Laws 
depend  for  their  efficiency  upon  the  moral  belief 
in  their  wisdom  and  fixity.  If  every  act  of  the 
majority,  made  in  good  faith  and  in  conformity 
with  law,  is  to  be  overruled  and  repealed  by  the 
Legislature,  this  city  sinks  below  the  level  of  the 
smallest  village  in  the  State.  I  do  not  believe 
that  Boston  has  given  any  cause  for  such  an 
appeal,  and  in  the  interests  of  conservatism  and 
of  self-government  I  trust  our  citizens  will  frown 
upon  all  attempts  to  place  us  in  a  position  of 
tutelage  or  guardianship.  Boston  is  still  able  to 
manage  its  own  afiairs  wisely  and  prudently.  The 
first  step  in  its  downward  career  will  be  taken 
when  the  State  is  requested  to  interfere  in  the 
management   of  its   local   afiairs. 

THE     PAVING    DEPARTMENT. 

This  department  is  one  of  the  most  important 
in  the  City  Government,  and  one  in  which  there 
have  been  more  waste  and  extravagance  than  in 
any  other.  I  have  no  hesitation  in  saying  that  it 
was  under  bad  management  during  the  first  six 
months  of  the  year  1885,  and  that  it  has  been 
more  or  less  used  as  a  political  machine  for  many 
years.  The  laborers  in  this  department  have  been 
employed  to-day  and   discharged   to-morrow,    with- 


38  MAYOR'S     ADDRESS. 

out  any  system  or  without  any  regard  for  either 
the  interests  of  the  city  or  the  men  employed. 
The  way  the  laborers  have  been  used  in  this  de- 
partment I  consider  nothing  more  nor  less  than 
heartless.  This  force  should  be  made  as  per- 
manent as  possible.  No  man  should  be  discharged 
except  for  cause,  and  no  one  should  be  employed 
unless  he  is  capable  of  doing  a  fair  day's  work. 

Early  in  1885  more  than  three  times  the  number 
of  men  were  on  the  rolls  of  the  department  than 
could  be  employed  for  any  length  of  time,  and 
these  men  were  deceived  by  promises  of  work  that 
prevented  them  from  seeking  employment  else- 
where. The  men  for  some  months  past  have  been 
working  half-time,  rather  than  cause  distress  and 
suffering  by  making  a  radical  change. 

Since  the  new  charter  went  into  operation  the 
number  of  yards  has  been  reduced  to  ten,  and 
it  is  proposed  to  employ  an  average  of  fifty  men 
at  each  yard,  making  a  permanent  force  of  five 
hundred  men.  To  this  force  the  department  can 
give  reasonable  assurance  of  permanent  employ- 
ment. If  at  times  extra  work  is  to  be  done  it 
should   be   understood   as   such. 

A  considerable  change  has  also  been  made  in 
the  number  of  foremen  and  sub-foremen.  This 
force    was    largely   increased    early   in    the    year, 


MAYOR'S     ADDRESS.  39 

and  thousands  of  dollars  have  been  paid  in  salaries 
to  men  who  rendered  very  little  service  to  the 
city.  The  reorganization  of  the  department  has 
not  been  fully  completed.  It  has  taken  time  to 
remedy  all  the  abuses  that  existed,  but  it  is  now 
no  longer  a  political  machine,  and  during  the 
year  1886  will  be  run  on  a  strictly  business  basis. 
The  department  will  also  be  able  to  live  within 
the  limits  of  the  appropriation,  and  will  not  prob- 
ably require  more  than  $700,000  to  do  the  work 
during   the    next   financial   year. 

The  amount  of  money  appropriated  for  this  de- 
partment in  April  last  was  $800,000,  together 
with  an  unexpended  balance  of  $186,917.07  for 
1881. 

The    expenditures   have   been   as   follows:  — 

For  Labor $475,697  85 

Teaming  (by  contract) 101,281  30 

Repairs  on  Streets,  and  Miscellaneous  Expenses  .  348,080  60 


Total  expenditures $925,059  75 

Of  this  amount  $583,562.08  was  expended 
prior  to  August  1,  leaving  a  balance  on  hand 
December  15  of  $61,857.32  to  carry  on  the 
department  till  May  1,  1886.  This  amount  is 
reduced    to    this    figure     on    account    of    a    large 


40  MAYOR'S     ADDRESS. 

contract  for  paving-blocks  that  cannot  be  used, 
and  is  dead  material  in  the  hands  of  the  de- 
partment. We  have  paid  $47,241.33  for  paving- 
blocks,  and  an  additional  sum  of  $69,9(38.73  is 
to   be   paid   on   contract. 

In  some  previous  years  the  department  has 
done  all  necessary  work  with  a  less  sum  than 
the  above  $61,857.32.  In  order  that  the  expendi- 
tures may  be  kept  within  this  amount  the  de- 
partment must  be,  and  has  already  been,  put 
upon  the  most  economical  basis.  Many  deserving 
men  of  long  service  have  been  suspended  from 
labor  and  the  expenditures  have  been  reduced  to 
the  minimum.  The  expense  of  removing  snow, 
which  has  varied  in  the  past  from  $5,000  to  up- 
wards of  $100,000  in  a  single  season,  should  always 
be  a  matter  for  special  appropriation;  as  it  would 
be  folly  to  reserve  the  larger  amount  for  that 
purpose.  While  the  needs  of  the  department  for 
the  coming  financial  year  will  not  probably  ex- 
ceed that  of  the  present  year,  and  may  be  re- 
duced to  $700,000,  a  much  larger  sum  would 
have  to  be  expended  if  all  the  demands  on  the 
department  were  met.  Our  citizens  will  never 
be  satisfied  until  our  business  streets  are  repaved 
with  more  modern  style  of  pavements.  The 
avenues  leading  to  our  beautiful  suburbs  should  be 


MAYOR'S     ADDRESS.  41 

kept  in  good  condition,  and  public  expenditures  on 
our  streets  should  ever  keep  pace  with  private 
improvements. 

DEPARTMENT     OF    PARKS. 

The  work  in  this  department  has  steadily  pro- 
gressed during  the  year,  but  the  present  genera- 
tion scarcely  has  a  practical  idea,  from  their 
present  appearance,  how  much  our  parks  will 
add  to  the  beauty  of  the  city,  and  to  the  pleasure 
and  sanitary  condition  of  our  people  some  twenty- 
five  or  fifty  years  hence.  The  cost  of  the  land 
for  the  Back- Bay  park  has  been  but  a  small 
percentage  of  the  cost  of  construction.  The 
land  has  been  purchased  on  a  thirty-year  loan. 
The  construction  comes  out  of  the  annual  tax 
levy.  The  cost  of  the  Charles-river  embankment 
will  be  almost  wholly  one  of  construction.  I  do 
not  see  any  good  reason  why  this  generation 
should  pay  the  whole  expense  of  an  improve- 
ment that  will  be  of  much  greater  benefit  to 
future  generations.  With  the  West  Roxbury,  or 
the  Franklin  park,  as  it  is  now  very  properly 
named,  it  is  different.  It  is  already  a  natural 
park,  and  tens  of  thousands  of  our  citizens, 
sometimes  estimated  at  25,000  in  a  single  day, 
have   enjoyed    its    beauty   and    pure    and    bracing 


42  MAYOR'S    ADDEESS. 

air  during  the  summer.  In  this  park  no  large 
expenditure  is  necessary;  but  some  improvement 
ought  to  be  made  every  year.  The  grounds 
should  be  cleared,  and  the  avenues  and  paths 
commenced  on  some  systematic  plan.  In  Appen- 
dix O  will  be  found  a  brief  statement  of  the 
work  done  during  the  year.  The  Back-Bay 
park  ought  to  be  completed  as  soon  as  possible. 
Private  enterprise  is  surrounding  this  park  with 
beautiful  and  costly  dwellings,  and  the  city  should 
encourage  the  men  who  are  adding  so  largely 
to  our  taxable  valuation.  The  attention  of  the 
City  Council  is  called  to  the  closing  remarks  of 
the   commissioners :  — 

It  would  be  well  to  put  the  parks  in  condition  by  a  loan 
rather  than  by  adding  the  annual  expense  to  the  tax  levy. 
The  present  cost  to  the  citizens  would  be  no  more  while 
the  citizen  of  to-day  would  receive  the  immediate  and  full 
benefit  thereof.  By  this  means  whatever  of  benefit  and  what- 
ever of  prosperity  is  to  come  from  the  parks  will  accrue  to 
our  present  citizens  rather  than  to  those  who  will  flock  in 
to  take  their  places,  and  the  parks  themselves  put  in  con- 
dition  at    the   least   expense. 

MAIN    DRAINAGE    WOBKS. 

The  Main  Drainage  Works,  or  the  "Improved 
System     of    Sewerage,"    as     they    were     formerly 


MAYOR'S     ADDRESS.  43 

called,  have  been  in  continuous  operation  during 
the  past  two  years  with  very  satisfactory  results. 
The  sewage  of  the  city  having  been  removed 
to  Moon  Island,  and  discharged  into  the  outer 
harbor,  the  condition  of  the  bays  and  docks  in 
the   city   is   constantly   improving. 

These  works  cannot,  however,  be  utilized  to 
their  full  capacity  in  relieving  the  city  of  the 
sewage  nuisances  until  the  radical  defects  of  the 
present  common  sewers  be  remedied.  A  complete 
survey  of  these  sewers  should  be  made,  and, 
after  a  careful  study  of  the  subject,  plans  should 
be  devised  and  adopted  for  the  correction  of  the 
existing  defects.  These  defects  can  never  be 
ascertained  so  long  as  two  departments  have 
charge  of  our  sewerage  system,  and  under  any 
circumstances  the  carrying  out  of  these  plans 
must   necessarily   be   gradual. 

The  works  were  designed  and  built  with  a  view 
of  ultimately  disposing  of  the  sewage  from  the 
high  portions  of  Dorchester,  Roxbury,  etc.,  by 
means  of  a  high-level  intercepting  sewer,  which 
will  convey  the  sewage,  without  pumping,  to 
Squantum.  For  some  years  to  come  the  low-level 
intercepting  sewers  will  receive  the  sewage  from 
the  low  and  high  level  sections  of  the  city,  but 
it   is   important    that   a   plan    should    be   definitely 


44  MAYOR'S     ADDRESS. 

decided  upon  in  order  that  the  common  sewers 
of  these  districts  may  be  built  to  conform  to  the 
completed  Main  Drainage  System.  In  this  way 
economic  and  satisfactory  results  can  be  obtained 
which   would   otherwise   be   impossible. 

The  total  amount  of  appropriation  available  for 
the  "Improved  Sewerage"  is  $111,922.64,  and  the 
amount  expended  to  Dec.  21,  1885,  is  $5,389,- 
649.18. 

The  Main  Drainage  System  should  remain  under 
the  immediate  supervision  of  the  Engineer's  De- 
partment, as  its  successful  operation  depends  upon 
intelligent  engineering  care,  which  can  be  best 
given  by  those  who  have  constructed  it.  In  fact, 
the  entire  system  of  sewerage  of  the  city  should 
be  controlled  by  some  single  department,  and  as 
the  care,  design,  and  construction  of  the  system 
is  purely  a  matter  of  engineering  the  Engineer's 
Department  is  the  proper  one  to  be  called  upon 
to  do  the  work,  and  be  held  responsible  for  its 
construction.  The  office  of  Superintendent  of 
Sewers  need  not  be  abolished,  but  his  work 
should  be  done  under  the  direction  of  the  City 
Engineer.  [For  farther  information  about  our 
Sewerage    System   I   refer   to   Appendix   M.] 


MAYOK'S     ADDKESS.  45 

THE    HEALTH    OF    THE    CITY. 

It  is  gratifying  to  know  that  the  health  of  the 
city  shows  some  improvement  over  previous  years. 
It  was  generally  believed  early  in  the  year  that 
our  city  would  be  visited  by  the  cholera,  and  prep- 
arations were  made  to  meet  this  threatened  in- 
vasion. Some  fifty  of  the  leading  physicians  were 
called  together  last  January,  and,  after  considering 
the  matter,  a  committee  was  selected  to  advise 
with  the  Board  of  Health  as  to  the  best  means 
to  meet  this  emergency.  The  city  was  immedi- 
ately placed  in  the  best  sanitary  condition  pos- 
sible, and  the  year  has  proved  to  be  one  of  the 
healthiest  on  record.  The  distinguished  physicians 
who  were  so  ready  to  cooperate  with  the  Board 
of  Health,  and  whose  practical  experience  and  ad- 
vice were  of  such  great  value,  deserve  the  thanks 
of  our  citizens  generally.  The  watchful  care  of 
the  Board  of  Health  has  also  prevented  the  spread 
of  small-pox,  that  has  been  so  disastrous  in  the 
neighboring  city  of  Montreal;  and  I  have  no  hesi- 
tation in  saying  that  this  Board  has  done  excel- 
lent work  during  the  year.  The  city  was  never 
in  better  sanitary  condition  than  it  is  to-day,  and 
I  am  satisfied  the  Health  Commissioners  will  continue 
their   actual   and   vigilant  work   the    ensuing   year. 


46  MAYOR'S     ADDRESS. 

There  will  be  almost  money  enough  left  from  the 
appropriation  to  build  a  new  and  larger  boat  to 
take  the  place  of  the  one  now  in  use.  [For 
further  particulars  of  the  work  in  this  direction 
see   Appendix  P.] 

THE   PUBLIC    SCHOOLS. 

The  public  schools  of  the  city  comprise:  1 
Normal,  10  Latin  and  High  Schools,  50  Grammar 
Schools,  and  455  Primary  School  classes.  Besides 
these  there  are  the  following  special  schools,  viz., 
1  School  for  Deaf  Mutes,  1  for  Licensed  Minors,  1 
Evening  High  School,  13  Evening  Schools,  5  Even- 
ing Drawing  Schools,  and  1  Manual  Training 
School. 

The  average  number  of  pupils  belonging  to  all 
these  schools  during  the  past  year  was  59,706, 
and  the  number  of  teachers  employed  to  instruct 
them  1,418,  the  cost  of  maintaining  them  $1,665,- 
878.38,  while  the  further  sum  of  $278,114.05  was 
expended  by  the  City  Council  for  school  buildings. 

The  average  cost  per  pupil  during  the  past 
year  was  $27.90,  or  $1.36  per  pupil  more  than 
the  average  cost  during  the  previous  year.  This 
increase  is  in  great  part  accounted  for  by  the 
decrease  in  revenue  from  the  sale  of  books,  etc., 
the    amount    being    in    1883-84    $79,364.66,    while 


MAYOK'S     ADDRESS.  47 

in  1884-85  the  amount  was  only  $39,574.76,  —  a 
loss  of  $39,189.90.  This  loss  was  caused  by  the 
legislative  enactment  which  went  into  effect  on 
the  1st  day  of  August,  1884,  making  it  obliga- 
tory on  school  committees  in  towns  and  cities 
throughout  the  Commonwealth  to  loan  books  and 
furnish  supplies  free  of  charge  to  the  pupils  of 
the  public  schools.  The  next  financial  year,  end- 
ing  April   30,  1886,  will   make   a   better   showing. 

The  past  year  witnessed  the  dedication  of  a 
new  Grammar  School  for  girls,  —  the  Hyde  School, 
—  a  magnificent  building,  elegant  in  its  structure 
and  commodious  in  all  its  arrangements.  The 
truant-officers  have  been  rendered  much  more 
efficient  than  formerly,  by  a  wise  and  judicious 
reorganization  of  that  force.  The  sanitary  con- 
dition of  the  schools  has  been  provided  for  by 
the  creation  of  the  office  of  Professor  of  Hygiene, 
and  a  new  study  added  by  the  adoption,  as  re- 
quired  by   law,   of  a  text-book   on   physiology. 

It  is  with  sincere  pleasure  I  bear  willing  testi- 
mony to  the  zeal  and  ability  with  which  this 
important  department  of  the  City  Government  has 
been  administered.  The  high  standard  which  our 
schools  have  attained  bears  ample  proof  to  the 
fidelity  with  which  this  great  trust  confided  to 
the    School    Board   has   been   discharged. 


48  MAYOR'S     ADDRESS. 

MANUAL-TRAESTN^    SCHOOLS. 

During  the  past  year  manual  training  has 
taken  more  definite  form  in  the  work  of  our 
schools.  There  is  now  a  carpenter-shop  and  tw^o 
cooking-schools  carried  on  in  connection  with 
the  schools  in  the  city  proper.  All  the  public- 
school  pupils  of  the  city  proper  can  attend  these 
schools.  The  School  Committee  propose  to  recom- 
mend the  establishment  this  year  of  a  cooking- 
school  in  South  Boston  and  a  carpenter-shop 
in  Eoxbury.  They  propose  to  keep  pace  with 
the  public  demand,  and  hope  in  time  to  be  jus- 
tified in  the  establishment  of  a  central  school 
for  manual  training  parallel  with  the  Latin  and 
High   Schools. 

In  1635,  five  years  after  the  settlement  of 
Boston,  the  public  Latin  School  was  founded,  and 
since  then  the  lawyer,  the  clergyman,  and  the 
like  have  been  conducted  up  to  the  doors  of  the 
college.  In  my  opinion  it  will  be  a  great  benefit 
to  the  community  if  some  of  the  public  money 
be  devoted  to  manual  training.  We  owe  "  the 
worker  with  his  hands"  a  greater  debt  than  we 
owe  all  the  professions  put  together;  for  "the 
worker  with  his  hands "  makes  up  over  seventy 
per   cent,    of    the    community.       Especially   is    this 


MAYOR'S     ADDRESS.  49 

true  when  we  remember  that  it  is  not  the  hand 
alone  we  train,  but  both  hand  and  mind.  Through 
both  the  hand  and  mind  we  can  more  easily  and 
naturally  build  up  our  boys  and  girls  into  broad 
and  good  citizens.  To  my  mind  no  branch  of 
education  develops  the  honesty  and  character  of 
boys  and  girls  equal  to  :?  manual  training."  Com- 
pelled to  depend  upon  themselves  to  a  great 
extent,  —  compelled  to  see  that  every  mistake  made 
is  their  own,  and  that  any  one  mistake  entails 
failure,  more  or  less  absolute  in  their  work,  they 
receive  lessons  which  always  live  in  their  minds. 
Honest,  careful,  thorough  men  and  women  will 
be   the   results. 

THE    CITY   HOSPITAL. 

It  would  take  too  much  space  and  occupy  too 
much  of  your  time  to  notice  all  the  good  work 
done  in  the  City  Hospital,  one  of  the  greatest  of 
Boston's  charitable  institutions.  The  trustees,  I 
am  satisfied,  have  given  more  attention  to  the 
wants  of  the  institution  than  in  any  previous  year, 
and  a  systematic  way  of  conducting  the  business 
has  been  arranged  and  carried  on  successfully 
throughout  the  year.  An  examination  of  the  work 
done  and  the  business  methods  adopted,  it  ap- 
pears  to    me,    would    be    an    advantage    to    other 


50  MAYOR'S     ADDRESS. 

institutions.  The  accommodation  for  out-door  pa- 
tients is  altogether  inadequate.  47,000  have  been 
attended  to  during  the  year,  and  more  room  and 
better  facilities  are  wanted.     [See  Appendix  Q.] 

BOARD    OF    PUBLIC    INSTITUTIONS. 

The  Board  of  Directors  of  Public  Institutions 
have  carried  on  the  work  economically  and  with 
good  business  ability,  but  will  find  it  difficult  to 
live  within  the  limit  of  their  appropriation.  I 
regret  to  say  that  this  is  in  consequence  of  the 
largely  increased  number  of  inmates  that  have  had 
to  be  provided  for.  The  State  institutions  are 
crowded,  and  insist  that  we  must  provide  for  all 
our  paupers  and  insane,  while,  at  the  same  time, 
every  available  space  in  our  institutions  has  been 
occupied.  There  is  no  alternative  but  to  provide 
for  them.  I  still  feel  that  all  our  poor  and  all  our 
criminals  ought  to  be  under  one  management; 
that  our  insane  asylum  should  be  a  branch  of  the 
city  hospital;  and  that  our  truant-children  should 
be  separated  from  the  criminals  by  whom  they  are 
now  surrounded;  but  it  takes  time  to  bring  about 
reforms,  and  I  regret  to  say  that  we  have  made 
very  little  progress  since  the  subject  was  first  agi- 
tated. [For  a  detailed  statement  of  the  work 
done   see   Appendix   J.] 


MAYOR'S     ADDRESS.  51 

THE     WATER-SUPPLY. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  early  in  the  year 
the  consumers  of  water  were  surprised,  on  re- 
ceiving their  water-bills,  that  the  rates  were  ad- 
vanced without  any  previous  notice.  The  reason 
assigned  for  this  advance  was  a  probable  defi- 
ciency in  the  revenue.  The  advance  was  so  un- 
expected and  uncalled  for,  and  caused  so  much 
dissatisfaction,  that  the  Water-Board  were  com- 
pelled to  reconsider  their  action,  and  return  to 
old  rates.  It  is  gratifying  to  know  that  this 
course  has  been  justified  by  the  facts.  The  rev- 
enue from  water  has  not  only  been  sufficient  to 
pay  all  expenses,  but  will  leave  a  large  surplus 
in  the  treasury  at  the  end  of  the  year.  With 
this  favorable  condition  of  the  revenue,  the  Water- 
Board  have  decided  to  deduct  six  per  cent,  from 
the  water-bills  due  for  year  1886  to  all  con- 
sumers by  schedule  rate,  and  later  the  meter 
rates  will  be  revised.  This  will  be  gratifying 
news   to    water-takers. 

An  application  has  been  made  to  the  Legis- 
lature for  the  waters  of  the  Shawsheen,  and,  if 
this  application  is  granted,  it  is  proposed  to  give 
up  such  parts  of  the  Mystic  supply  as  are  liable 
to   excessive    deterioration.     I    am    satisfied   that   it 


52  MAYOK'S    ADDKESS. 

is  only  a  question  of  time  when  the  whole 
Mystic  supply  will  have  to  be  abandoned  on  ac- 
count of  its  impurity.  [For  interesting  information 
as  to  the  condition  of  our  water-supply  see  Ap- 
pendix L.] 

STATE   DRAINAGE    COMMISSION. 

The  report  to  be  submitted  to  the  incoming 
Legislature  by  the  State  Commission  appointed  in 
1884  to  consider  the  subject  of  the  protection 
of  the  public  health  as  endangered  by  the  dram- 
age  or  by  the  pollution  of  the  water-supply  in 
the  Charles  river,  Mystic,  Neponset,  and  Black- 
stone  valleys  will  be  of  especial  interest  to  the 
citizens  of  Boston.  Among  the  recommendations 
of  the  commission  will  be  one  for  the  removal 
of  the  dangers  which  have  so  long  threatened 
the  purity  of  the  Cochituate  and  Sudbury  river 
water-service  from  the  drainage  of  the  towns  of 
Natick,  Framingham,  Westboro',  and  Marlboro',  — 
all  of  which  have  systems  of  public  water-supply 
without   provisions    for    sewerage. 

The  commission  will  also  recommend  that  the 
main  intercepting  sewer  of  Boston  be  continued 
from  its  present  terminus  on  the  Back  Bay  to 
Waltham,  for  the  purpose  of  receiving  the  sewage 
of    Brookline,    Brighton,    Cambridge,     Somerville, 


MAYOR'S     ADDRESS.  53 

Charlestown,  "Watertown,  Newton,  and  Waltham. 
This  report,  affecting  as  it  will  so  many  interests 
of  our  city,  should  be  carefully  examined  by  the 
City  Council. 

PUBLIC   BUILDINGS    AND    ARCHITECT'S     DEPARTMENT. 

The  work  of  the  department  of  Public  Build- 
ings has  been  confined  to  the  repairs,  altera- 
tions, fitting  and  furnishing,  of  public  buildings 
and  school-houses.  The  repairs,  care,  and  clean- 
ing of  the  county  buildings  are  controlled  by 
this  department  also.  The  appropriation  was 
$137,354.09  for  public  buildings  and  $187,000  for 
school-houses.  The  expenditures  for  the  year 
will  come  within  the  amount  appropriated.  Five 
new  school-houses  have  been  completed  the  past 
year,   namely:  — 

Grammar   School-house,    Hammond   street. 
Grammar   School-house,    Minot   District. 
Primary   School-house,    Blossom   street. 
Primary    School-house,    Harrison    avenue. 
Primary   School-house,   Porter   street. 
Primary    School-house,    Brighton    District. 
Primary   School-house,    Irving   Hill   avenue. 

In  regards  to  the  wants  of  the  department  for 
the  coming  year  no  extraordinary  expenditure 
beyond    the    usual    amount    appropriated    will     be 


54  MAYOR'S     ADDRESS. 

required  except  for  school-houses,  which  must 
be  increased  on  account  of  the  demand  made 
by  the  Board  of  Health  for  new  sanitary  ar- 
rangements in  many  of  the  buildings,  and  the 
demand  of  the  School  Board  for  improved  heat- 
ing and  ventilating  apparatus  in  many  of  the 
older    houses. 

There  have  also  been  completed  during  the 
year  :  — 

For  the  Trustees  of  the  City  Hospital,  a  house  for 
nurses    on    Springfield    st. 

For  the  Directors  of  East  Boston  Ferries,  a  new  head- 
house  for  the  South  Ferry,  and  alterations  for  the  North 
Ferry   head-house. 

A   large    hospital   building   on    Deer   Island. 

A   ladder  and   hose   house   in    Ward    24. 

A   repair-shop    for   the   Fire   Department,    on   Albany    st. 

An  addition  to  station-house  on  East  Dedham  st.,  for  the 
Police   Department. 

There  are   now   in   process   of  erection  :  — 

A   Grammar   School-house   on    Dudley    st. 

A    Grammar   School-house   on    Huntington    ave. 

A   Grammar    School-house   on    Winship    pi. 

A   Primary    School-house   on   Medford   st. 

An   Engine-house   on    Saratoga   st. 

An    Engine-house    on    Boylston  st. 

A  Police-station   on    Boylston    st. 


MAYOR'S     ADDRESS.  55 

A   house    for   paupers    on    Long   Island. 

A   dead-house    on    Deer   Island. 

A   building   for   contagious    diseases   for   City    Hospital. 

These  facts  indicate  that  our  Architect's  depart- 
ment  is    fully   employed. 

THE    PUBLIC    LIBRARY. 

I  have  placed  in  an  appendix  the  remarks  of 
the  President  of  the  Trustees  of  the  Public  Library. 
Generally  speaking,  I  may  say  that  the  Library 
and  its  branches  have  continued  to  afford  the 
public  those  facilities  for  which  the  public 
money  is  granted.  It  was  deemed  necessary  in 
1885  to  reduce  the  annual  appropriation  by  one- 
twelfth  part;  and,  as  the  expense  of  administering 
the  Library  is  almost  a  fixed  sum,  this  reduction 
has  been  felt  mainly  in  the  necessity  to  stop  all 
intended  improvements.  Various  portions  of  the 
city  have  desired  delivery  stations  or  branch 
libraries,  but  I  cannot  advise  their  establishment 
until    our   revenues    are   more    ample. 

As  to  the  new  building  for  the  Reference  Li- 
brary on  Copley  square,  for  which  the  State  and 
the  city  have  made  such  generous  provision,  a 
delay  has  occurred  which  has  caused  unfavor- 
able comment.     I  am  assured  by  the  trustees  that 


56  MAYOR'S    ADDRESS. 

this  delay  has  been  caused  by  a  change  in  plans 
consequent  upon  the  financial  troubles  of  the  past 
two  years.  The  first  plans  for  a  building  contem- 
plated the  present  construction  of  an  edifice  large 
enough  to  contain  the  presumed  growth  of  the 
library  for  fifty  years.  The  City  Architect  pre- 
sented a  sketch  plan  based  on  these  lines,  but 
costing   $700,000   or   $800,000. 

As  the  appropriation  is  only  $450,000,  and  there 
is  no  reason  to  think  that  a  larger  sum  ought 
to  be  voted,  the  trustees  decided  to  reduce  their 
estimates  of  expense.  They  believe  that  at  pres- 
ent it  would  be  better  to  build  only  enough  to 
provide  for  the  present  library  with  twenty  years' 
increase,  so  arranging,  however,  that  future  build- 
ings can  be  added  as  needed  without  altering 
the  main  plan.  The  City  Architect  has  instruc- 
tions to  design  a  building  to  cover  the  Dartmouth- 
street  front  to  accommodate  all  the  present 
library,  and  to  complete  the  work  within  the 
present  appropriation.  It  is  expected  that  this 
plan   will   be    prepared    early   next   spring. 

I  must,  however,  call  to  your  attention  the 
fact  that  the  new  charter  removes  the  two  offi- 
cial members  from  the  Board  of  Trustees,  here- 
tofore appointed  from  the  City  Council.  It  is  a 
step  of  doubtful  wisdom,  although  in  harmony  with 


MAYOR'S    ADDRESS.  57 

the  letter  of  the  charter.  There  is  a  great  dif- 
ference between  having  departments  managed  ex- 
clusively by  committees  of  the  City  Council,  and 
having  a  minority  representation  of  the  City  Council 
placed  on  permanent  Boards.  It  is  a  great  gain 
to  have  a  department  represented  at  the  City 
Council  by  members  interested  in  the  subject. 
This  remark  applies  not  only  to  the  Public  Li- 
brary, but  to  the  City  Hospital,  the  Directors  of 
Public  Institutions,  and  the  Trustees  of  Mount 
Hope  Cemetery.  All  of  these  are  public  bodies, 
expending  the  public  money,  and  requiring  large 
annual    appropriations. 

It  is  clearly  proper  that  these  special  acts  be 
revised  so  as  to  make  the  number  of  directors 
or  trustees  conform  to  the  fact.  It  is  absurd,  for 
example,  to  state  in  one  section  of  an  act  that 
there  shall  be  seven  trustees  of  the  Public  Library, 
and  then  allow  only  five  to  be  appointed. 

If,  however,  the  City  Council  is  to  be  excluded 
from  the  management  of  the  Public  Library  and 
the  City  Hospital  it  may  be  well  to  increase  these 
Boards.  Nine  members,  one-third  renewable  every 
year,  would  constitute  a  Board  none  too  large  for 
the  exclusive  control  of  such  great  enterprises. 
The  larger  number  and  more  frequent  changes 
would   also    give    the    necessary    infusion    of   new 


58  MAYOR'S    ADDRESS. 

energy  and  practical  ideas.  Small  Boards  holding 
for  long  terms  are  nnsuited  to  our  institutions,  as 
they  almost  invariably  degenerate  into  close  corpora- 
tions. These  great  Boards  require  annual  appro- 
priations, and  their  management  should  truthfully 
represent  the  constituencies  which  provide  the 
means.  I  suggest,  therefore,  that  some  action  be 
taken  promptly  in  the  line  of  one  improvement  or 
the  other. 

POLICE     DEPARTMENT. 

A  radical  change  was  made  in  the  management 
of  the  police  force  during  the  past  year,  by  the 
creation  of  a  Board  of  Police  appointed  by  the 
Governor   of  the  Commonwealth. 

The  new  Board  entered  upon  its  duties  on  the 
23d  of  July  last.  The  number  of  officers  and 
men  in  the  department  is  791,  and  there  are  now 
no  vacancies.  During  the  year  12  members  were 
discharged,  3  resigned,  5  died,  13  were  pensioned, 
and  28  new  members  were  appointed.  Six  pension- 
ers died,  leaving  79  remaining  on  the  pension-roll. 

There  were  15  promotions  made  during  the  year, 
viz.,  one  superintendent,  one  deputy  superintend- 
ent, one  chief  inspector,  two  captains,  one  in- 
spector, four  lieutenants,  and  five  sergeants.  All 
appointments  and  promotions  were  made  in  accord- 


MAYOR'S     ADDRESS.  59 

ancc    with    the    civil-service    rules    of     the    Com- 
monwealth. 

Capt.  Samuel  Gr.  Adams,  who  was  superintend- 
ent of  police  from  the  date  of  the  reorganiza- 
tion of  the  department  in  1878,  was  retired  at  his 
own  request,  and  the  vacancy  was  filled  by  the 
promotion  of  Capt.  Cyrus  Small,  who  had  served 
as   Deputy    Superintendent   for  the    same    period. 

The  station-houses  are,  with  the  exception  of 
that  in  Division  1,  in  good  condition.  The 
remarks  made  in  the  last  inaugural  address  rela- 
tive to  Station-house  1  are  still  applicable,  viz.: 
w  The  house  used  by  Division  1  is  very  poorly 
ventilated,  besides  being,  on  account  of  defects 
in  construction,  wholly  inadequate  to  accommo- 
date the  large  number  of  prisoners  detained 
therein  during  the  year.  The  abandonment  and 
sale  of  this  house  is  recommended,  and  the 
erection  of  a  new  building,  with  modern  con- 
veniences, off  the  main  thoroughfare;  and  it  is 
believed  that  a  sufficient  sum  could  be  realized 
from  the  sale  to  meet  the  expenses  to  be  incurred." 

The  plans  for  a  new  station-house  on  the 
corner  of  Boylston  and  Hereford  streets,  the 
erection  of  which  was  authorized  by  the  last 
City  Council,  were  completed,  and  some  progress 
was   made   towards    erecting   the   building.       It   is 


60  MAYOR'S     ADDRESS. 

expected     that     it   will    be     completed    ready    for 
occupancy    during   the   present   year. 

Measures  are  being  taken  to  introduce  the 
police  signal  system  into  this  city.  It  is  the 
intention  of  the  Board  of  Police  to  give  the 
system  a  practical  trial  in  two  or  three  of 
the  divisions,  and  then,  if  it  is  found  to  work 
satisfactorily,  to  extend  it  as  the  necessities  of 
the  service  require  and  means  will  permit.  I  am 
happy  to  say  that  there  has  been  perfect  harmony 
between  the  Board  of  Police  appointed  by  the 
Governor  and  the  Mayor  of  the  city,  and  that 
the  work  in  that  department  has  been  satisfac- 
torily  performed. 

HORSE-CARS    AND     STREET-BLOCKADES. 

During  the  entire  year  1885  a  committee  of 
the  Board  of  Aldermen  had  under  consideration 
the  blockade  of  our  principal  business  streets  by 
the  different  horse-railroad  companies,  but  failed 
to  bring  about  any  satisfactory  results.  Block- 
ades still  continue,  and  horse-cars,  partially  filled, 
block  our  principal  streets,  to  the  annoyance  of 
common  carriers  and  citizens  generally.  I  have 
no  hesitation  in  saying  that,  as  now  allowed  to 
run  between  Cornhill  and  Boylston  street,  in- 
cluding    Scollay     and    Dock    squares,    they    have 


MAYOR'S     ADDRESS.  61 

become  a  public  nuisance.  The  Board  of  Alder- 
men have  shown  conclusively  that  they  are  not 
able  to  cope  with  this  question.  Every  attempt 
on  their  part  has  been  a  failure,  and  the  failure 
of  the  past  year  has  been  more  pronounced  than 
in  any  previous  year.  I  am  satisfied  that  this 
blockade  of  our  streets  could  be  easily  abated  if 
the  running  of  horse-cars  was  placed  in  the  hands 
of  a  permanent  commissioner,  appointed  by  the 
Mayor,  and  held  responsible  to  the  Mayor,  the  same 
as  the  heads  of  the  city  departments.  The  principal 
nuisance  now  exists  between  Cornhill  and  Boyl- 
ston  street,  including  Scollay  and  Dock  squares, 
and  special  legislation  would  have  to  be  obtained 
to  enable  the  commissioner  to  perform  his  duty. 
With  such  legislation,  and  a  commissioner  re- 
sponsible to  the  Mayor,  horse-car  blockades  could 
be  stopped,  and  the  interests  of  the  public  better 
served. 

The  Metropolitan,  the  Highland,  the  South  Bos- 
ton, the  Middlesex,  the  Union,  and  the  Charles 
River  horse-railroads  now  compete  with  each 
other  for  the  passenger  traffic  of  the  city.  Why 
should  there  be  so  many  competing  lines?  If  these 
roads  were  under  one  management,  if  they  could 
be  consolidated  with  proper  regulations  and  restric- 
tions, the   public   would   be    better   served   and  the 


62  MAYOR'S    ADDRESS. 

work  more  economically  performed.  Cars  partially 
filled,  under  such  conditions,  would  not  block  our 
principal  streets.  I  have  no  fear  of  a  horse-rail- 
road  monopoly. 

The  present  system  is  also  an  expensive  one 
to  the  city.  We  are  now  compelled  to  employ 
a  large  force  of  police  to  look  after  horse-rail- 
roads exclusively,  who  have  no  other  duty,  and 
this  force  will  have  to  be  increased  if  the  present 
system  is  allowed  to  go  on.  The  horse-railroads 
are  a  public  necessity;  but  as  long  as  so  many 
companies  are  allowed  to  compete  with  each  other 
they  will  continue  to  be,  to  some  extent,  a 
public  nuisance  unless  consolidation  is  brought 
about,  or  until  a  permanent  commission,  with 
special   powers,   is    appointed   to   regulate  them. 

THE     LAMP    DEPARTMENT. 

This  department  is  constantly  increasing.  Pe- 
titions for  new  lights  have  been  more  numerous 
than  in  any  previous  year,  and  the  number  that 
have  been  placed  shows  a  very  large  increase. 
This  work  has  been  done  without  any  additional 
appropriation.  The  total  number  of  lights  added 
in  1885  was  371.  The  total  in  1884  was  186, 
showing  an  increase  this  year  over  last  year  of 
185.      [See   Appendix  E.] 


MAYOR'S     ADDEESS.  63 

INSPECTION    OF   MILK. 

Excellent  work  has  been  done  in  this  depart- 
ment, and  its  importance  is  not  fully  appreciated 
by  our  citizens.  Since  May  1  the  department  has 
been  reorganized,  and  the  inspection  of  the  im- 
portant food  products  with  which  the  office  is 
charged  has  been  rendered .  more  complete,  sys- 
tematic and  effective.  Up  to  the  present  date 
there  have  been  7,600  inspections  of  milk,  1,500 
inspections  of  butter,  and  107  complaints  have 
been  made  for  violations  of  the  statute  in  relation 
thereto.  The  percentage  of  adulterated  samples 
at  the  beginning  of  the  year  was  38T9oV  per  cent. 
This  has  been  reduced  to  14TVo  Per  cent.,  and  it 
is  hoped  to  make  it  still  lower.  It  is  confi- 
dently claimed  that  the  quality  and  purity  of  the 
milk  supply  of  the  city  of  Boston  have  never 
been   better   than   at   the   present   time. 

REGISTRATION    OF     VITAL     STATISTICS. 

The  work  in  this  department  has  progressed  in 
the  same  accurate  and  thorough  manner  that  has 
characterized  it  in  previous  years.  In  regard  to 
the  prospective  wants  of  the  department,  it  is 
desirable  that  there  should  be  classified  indices 
made   to   the    Births,    Marriages,    and   Deaths    for 


64  MAYOR'S     ADDRESS. 

the  years  1850  to  1881,  inclusive.  The  number 
of  persons  who  have  occasion  to  consult  the  rec- 
ords is  so  great  —  and  the  number  is  constantly 
increasing — that  it  seems  to  be  necessary  that  the 
new  system  of  indexing  should  replace  the  old. 
Early  last  year  the  Registrar  addressed  a  com- 
munication to  the  City  Council  recommending 
this  work ;  but,  owing  to  the  illness  of  the  chair- 
man of  the  committee  to  whom  the  communi- 
cation was  referred,  the  subject  failed  to  receive 
attention.  The  suggestion  of  the  Registrar  was 
a  good  one,  and  I  trust  it  will  receive  your  at- 
tention  the    coming   year. 

BOARD  OF  REGISTRARS  OF  VOTERS. 

This  department  is  in  excellent  working  condition, 
and  is  performing  the  various  duties  assigned  to 
it  under  the  laws  of  the  Commonwealth  in  a 
manner  satisfactory  to  the  citizens.  The  legislative 
enactments  of  the  past  two  years,  which  apply  to . 
this  department,  have  proved  fully  adequate  to  the 
demands  of  the  public  for  a  thorough  and  honest 
registration  of  the  voters;  but,  if  the  registration 
of  women  is  to  increase  in  the  proportion  that  it 
has  this  year,  additional  legislation  and  increased 
facilities  will  soon  be  required  to  meet  the  new 
conditions  occasioned   by   the  change. 


MAYOR'S     ADDRESS.  65 

DEPARTMENT    OF   PRINTING. 

This  department  has  furnished  all  the  different 
documents,  memorial  volumes,  blanks,  and  sta- 
tionery required  for  the  use  of  the  City  Coun- 
cil and  the  various  departments  of  the  City 
Government,  together  with  the  Record  Commis- 
sioners' Reports,  and  the  Index  to  the  Minutes 
of  the  twelve  volumes  preceding  1880.  These 
volumes  are  very  important,  and  have  been 
prepared  with  great  care  and  at  considerable 
expense,  and  will  prove  of  value  to  all  who  have 
an  interest  in  the  past  and  present  government 
of  the   municipality   and   town. 

Owing  to  the  increased  demand  for  copies  of 
the  City  Documents,  by  members  of  the  City 
Council  and  the  public  generally,  it  will  be  neces- 
sary to  print  a  larger  edition  of  each  document 
for  the  ensuing  year,  and  I  would  recommend  that 
the  edition  be  increased  from  500  copies,  the 
number   now  printed,   to    600   copies. 

RECORD     COMMISSIONERS* 

The  Record  Commissioners  have  completed 
their  tenth  year  of  service,  and  their  published 
volumes  have  been,  as  usual,  distributed  to  our 
citizens.     The   large   number   of  regular   recipients 


66  MAYOR'S     ADDRESS. 

of  these  books,  including  all  the  colleges,  public 
libraries,  and  learned  societies  of  the  country,  is 
a  proof  of  the  economy  with  which  the  distri- 
bution is  made.  The  warm  approval  of  all  stu- 
dents of  our  history  convinces  me  that  the  ex- 
penditure is  a  wise  one,  and  worthy  of  continuance. 
Other  cities  and  towns  are  following  our  exam- 
ple, and  Boston  has  again  had  the  honor  of  lead- 
ing in  a  great  public  enterprise.  The  town  records 
have  now  nearly  reached  in  publication  the  period 
of  our  Revolution,  and  our  citizens  will  soon 
have  the  opportunity  of  reading  the  official  ac- 
count of  the  patriotic  and  wise  course  adopted 
by  our  predecessors  in  that  momentous  struggle 
with  the  power  of  Great  Britain.  I  commend 
the   project   to   your   most   favorable   consideration. 

THE    FIRE    DEPARTMENT. 

This  is  one  of  our  most  important  departments. 
The  property  of  our  citizens  depends  on  active 
and  vigilant  work.  It  is  useless  to  disguise  the 
fact  that  numerous  complaints  have  been  made 
during  the  year  about  the  management,  but  not 
of  sufficient  importance  to  require  special  action. 
The  material  in  the  department  is  excellent,  but 
there  have  not  been  that  harmony  and  discipline 
that    ought    to     exist    among    its    members.     The 


MAYOR'S     ADDRESS.  67 

attention  of  the  commissioners  has  been  called  to 
these  complaints,  and  there  is  already  a  favorable 
change.  The  Fire  Department  might  very  properly 
be  compared  to  a  military  organization,  and  I 
believe  that  if  the  responsibility  were  placed  under 
a  single-headed  commission  we  would  have  a  more 
perfect  organization.  [For  details  of  the  work 
done  see  Appendix  K.] 

NEW     CAMBRIDGE     BRIDGE. 

The  new  Cambridge  bridge  failed  to  receive 
the  approval  of  the  City  Council  last  year,  but 
its  necessity  and  importance  cannot  be  overlooked. 
Cambridge  is  closely  connected  with  Boston,  and 
a  new  avenue  is  demanded  to  accommodate  and 
facilitate  our  trade  and  business  relations  with 
that  city.  When  Cambridge  is  ready  and  willing 
to  pay  one-half  the  cost  of  the  structure,  it 
appears  to  me  that  Boston  should  not  hesitate. 
I  recommend  that  a  special  committee  be  ap- 
pointed  to   take   the   matter   into    consideration. 

BRIDGES. 

The  Albany-street  bridge,  over  the  Boston  & 
Albany  Railroad,  should  be  rebuilt.  The  condition 
of  the  bridge  is  such  that  no  repairs  are  prac- 
ticable  or    advisable,    and    the     sidewalks     on    the 


68  MAYOR'S     ADDRESS. 

bridge  have  been  closed  to  travel  as  unsafe.  It 
is  believed  that  the  Boston  &  Albany  Railroad 
Company  will  pay  a  part  of  the  cost  of  rebuild- 
ing  this   bridge. 

THE    COMPLAINT-BOOK. 

It  has  been  frequently  remarked  that  citizens 
who  have  had  business  with  the  department,  or 
who  have  been  compelled  to  make  complaints, 
fail  to  secure  any  satisfaction.  Since  the  new 
charter  went  into  operation  a  complaint-book  has 
been  opened  in  the  Mayor's  office,  where  all  com- 
plaints are  entered.  This  has  been  found  to  work 
admirably.  When  the  complaint  is  made  in  writ- 
ing, signed  by  some  responsible  party,  it  will  be 
looked  into  and  investigated,  and  the  evil,  if 
any,  remedied.  I  have  always  found  the  dif- 
ferent departments  ready  to  cooperate  with  me  in 
this  work,  and  it  has  very  frequently  happened 
that  in  this  way  we  have  received  information 
that  is  desirable  to  know.  The  system  will  be 
continued.  The  officials  at  City  Hall  are  the 
agents  of  our  citizens,  and  when  their  requests 
or  complaints  are  reasonable  they  will  secure 
proper   and   prompt    attention. 


MAYOR'S     ADDRESS.  69 

CONCLUSION. 

I  have  referred  to  various  matters  that  you 
will  be  called  upon  to  consider  during  the  year, 
and  trust  that  the  legislative  and  executive  branches 
of  the  City  Government  will  work  in  harmony 
and  for  the  best  interests  of  the  city.  We  should 
remember  that  we  represent  a  city  whose  credit 
and  standing  are  second  to  none  in  the  country, 
and  every  member  of  the  City  Government  should 
feel  that  the  responsibility  rests  on  him  to  use 
his  best  efforts  to  keep  Boston  where  she  now 
stands,  in   the   front  rank   of  American  cities. 


APPENDIX. 


APPENDIX. 


APPENDIX    A. 


Assessors'  Office,  City  Hall, 

Boston,  December  19,  1885. 

Hon.  Hugh  O'Brien,  Mayor  City  of  Boston:  — 

Sir,  —  In  answer  to  your  request  for  a  statement  in  relation 
to  the  work  of  the  Assessors'  Department,  I  would  say,  that, 
omitting  all  reference  to  a  very  large  amount  of  detail  in 
its  operations,  the  principal  incidents  of  the  work  of  the 
present  year  may  be  stated  as  follows :  The  valuation  of 
the  city,  as  determined  by  the  assessment  of  the  current 
year,  was  $685,579,072.  Of  this  sum  $495,973,400  was  the 
estimated  value  of  the  real,  and  $189,605,672  of  the  per- 
sonal estate.  This  is  a  gain  of  $2,922,415  over  the  total 
valuation  of  the  preceding  year.  The  whole  sum  ordered 
to  be  raised  for  State,  county,  and  city  taxes  for  1884  was 
$11,288,369,  and  for  1885,  $8,693,747  ;  a  decrease  of  $2,594,622. 
This  increase  of  valuation,  and  decrease  in  the  amount  of 
money  raised,  caused  the  rate  of  taxation  to  recede  from 
$17  per  $1,000  in  1884,  to  $12.80  per  $1,000  in  1885.  The 
average  rate  of  taxation  for  the  past  ten  years  has  been 
$13.96  on  each  $1,000.  The  question  of  a  better  method 
of  selecting  assessors  and  assistant-assessors  has  for  many 
years  occupied  the  attention  of  the  City  Council,  with  but  slight 


74  APPENDIX. 

change  in  the  ordinance  in  relation  to  such  elections.  But, 
by  the  new  charter,  changes  more  radical  than  any  ever 
considered  by  the  government  of  the  city  have  now  the  force 
of  law.  Under  its  provisions  the  assessors  are  to  be  appointed 
by  the  Mayor,  subject  to  the  confirmation  of  the  Board  of 
Aldermen,  and  their  assistants  are  appointed  by  the  Board  of 
Assessors,   subject  only    to  the  approval   of    the   Mayor. 

The  assessment  of  national  bank  shares  is  controlled  in  a 
large  degree  by  the  laws  of  the  United  States.  Under  the 
limitations  that  Congress  has  imposed  the  laws  of  the  State 
require  the  assessors  of  the  place  where  any  bank  is  located 
to  assess  all  its  shares.  When  the  assessors  of  Boston 
have  assessed  all  the  shares  of  the  Boston  banks,  and  after 
the  collector  has  received  the  taxes,  the  treasurer  of  the  city 
must  pay  to  the  Commonwealth  the  proportion  of  such  taxes 
that  attach  to  shares  belonging  to  other  than  citizens  of 
Boston  ;  and  the  officers  of  the  State  credit  and  pay  over  the 
amount  received  to  the  several  cities  and  towns  where  the 
share-holders  reside.  The  laws  of  the  State,  and  the  methods 
of  the  assessors,  in  taxing  this  class  of  property,  were  sub- 
jects of  some  controversy  in  former  years ;  but,  since  the 
passage  of  Chapter  3 15.  of  the  Acts  of  1873,  all  the  Boston 
banks  have  acquiesced  in  the  law  and  its  administration  until 
the  current  year.  The  law,  as  it  now  stands,  requires  the 
banks  to  pay  the  taxes  of  each  of  their  share-holders.  All 
but  six  of  the  Boston  banks  have  this  year  paid  these  assess- 
ments under  protest,  and  have  given  notice  of  an  intention 
to   recover   the  same   by   suit. 

As  the  judgments,  if  they  prevail,  would  run  against  the 
city  of  Boston,  unless  the  treasurer  retains  the  money  thus 
collected    [amounting   to   more   than   $575,000],  the   city,    after 


APPENDIX.  75 

it  has  been  compelled  to  respond  to  the  judgments  of  the 
courts,  would  be  powerless  to  recover  this  sum  which  has 
been  assessed  and  collected  by  its  officers  only  as  agents 
for  others.  It  would  seem  that  legislation  is  needed,  in  order 
that  the  city  may  safely  pay  over  this  money,  and  that  those 
who  are  interested  in  defending  their  right  to  have,  and  to 
retain  it,  should  pay  the  expense  of  litigation  in  the  United 
States   courts. 

Very  respectfully, 

For  the  Board  of  Assessors, 

THOMAS    HILLS, 

Chairman. 


APPENDIX     B. 


CITY   ARCHITECT'S    DEPARTMENT. 

This  department  has  had  a  large  number  of  buildings  in 
process  of  erection  during  the  past  year.  The  work  has 
been  done  entirety  by  contract  at  exceedingly  low  figures, 
and  it  is  the  experience  of  this  department  that  almost 
all  its  work  is  taken  by  contract  at  a  much  lower  price 
than   private    parties  are    paying    for    similar    work. 

The  following  buildings  have  been  erected  and  completed :  — 

For   the   School   Department. 

Primary    School-house    on    Harrison   ave.,    Ward    18. 
Primary    School- house   on   Blossom    st.,    Ward    9. 
Primary    School -house    in    Brighton,    Ward    25. 


76  APPENDIX. 

Primary   School-house   on   Parker   st.,    Ward    22. 

Primary   School-house    on    Savin    Hill    ave.,    Ward    24. 

Grammar   School-house    on    Hammond    st.,    Ward    19. 

Grammar   School-house   on   Neponset   ave.,    Ward   24. 

For  the  Trustees  of  the  City  Hospital,  a  house  for  nurses 
on    Springfield    st. 

For  the  Directors  East  Boston  Ferries,  a  new  head-house 
for  the  South  Ferry,  and  alterations  of  the  North  Ferry 
head-house. 

For  the  Directors  Public  Institutions,  a  large  hospital  build- 
ing  on   Deer   Island. 

For  the   Fire   Department. 

A   ladder   and   hose-house   in   Ward    24. 
A   repair-shop   on   Albany   st.,   Ward   17. 

For   the    Police    Department. 
An    addition   to    the    station-house   on   East   Dedham   st. 

For   the   Improved   Sewerage   Department,    Park   Department, 
and    Water    Department. 

Several   gate-houses. 

There   are   now   in   the  process   of   erection :  — 

A   Grammar   School-house   on   Dudley   st.,   Ward   20. 
A   Grammar    School-house    on    Huntington   ave.,    Ward    22. 
A   Grammar   School-house   on   Winship   pi.,    Ward    25. 
A   Primary    School-house    on    Medford   st.,    Ward   3. 
An   Engine-house   on   Saratoga   St.,    Ward    1. 
An   Engine-house    on    Boylston    st.,    Ward    11. 


APPENDIX.  77 

A  Police-station    on    Boylston    st.,    Ward   11. 

A  House    for    Paupers    on    Long    Island. 

A  Dead-house   on   Deer   Island. 

A  building    for   contagious    diseases    at    the    City    Hospital. 

For  the  past  two  years  there  has  been  a  marked  improve- 
ment in  the  construction  of  the  city  buildings  in  many  par- 
ticulars ;  elaborate  ornament  and  finish  of  exterior  and  interior 
have  been  sacrificed  for  solid  and  safe  fire-proof  construction 
and  for  the  introduction  of  the  most  approved  appliances  for 
heating  and  ventilating  and  sanitary  plumbing.  As  regards 
the  important  questions  of  the  ventilation  of  our  public  school- 
houses,  the  report  of  the  State  Board  of  Health,  Lunacy,  and 
Charity,  for  1884-85,  says:  — 

"  A  very  important  change  has  been  begun  within  the  past 
year,  namely,  the  introduction  of  forced  ventilation  by  steam- 
fans  into  several  houses  now  building.  Credit  is  due  to  the 
present  City  Architect  for  this  step,  which  was  taken  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  advice  of  Dr.  Billings.  An  engine  of  four 
horse-power,  with  a  fire-pot  fourteen  inches  in  diameter,  runs 
two  fans,  one  for  propulsion,  the  other  (at  the  educt  shaft) 
for  expulsion.  The  cost  for  the  plant,  for  a  house  of  eight 
rooms,  is  said  to  be  $2,800  ;  the  engine  can  be  safely  run  by 
an  average  janitor,  and  the  cost  for  fuel  is  trifling.  The 
success  of  this  measure  will  be  a  great  credit  to  the  city,  for 
all  systems  dependent  on  heated  flues  for  the  sole  motive- 
power  are  at  times  ineffective.  In  the  case  of  one  new  school- 
house,  a  test  of  the  power  exerted  in  moving  one  of  the  fans 
gave  as  a  result  2.014  horse-power.  The  calculated  power  of 
the    machine    (disregarding  friction   in    the    flues)    is   such  as  to 


78  APPENDIX. 

enable   it   to   extract   all   the    air  from   the   school- room  and  the 
play-grounds    in   the   cellar   once   in    four   minutes." 

A  change  in  the  manner  of  securing  land  for  public  build- 
ings is  a  matter  requiring  immediate  attention,  and  an  ordi- 
nance passed,  ordering  the  City  Architect  to  approve  of  all 
lots  for  public  buildings,  will  obviate  the  purchase  of  land 
that  has  been  found  by  past  experience  totally  unfit  for 
building   purposes. 

The  plans  for  the  new  public  library  building  have  pro- 
gressed as  rapidly  as  the  diversified  opinions  of  the  trustees 
would  admit.  The  question  of  the  location  of  the  book- 
stacks  has  been  settled,  and,  as  the  City  Council  have  lately 
granted  the  Architect  increased  facilities  for  forwarding  the 
work,  there  is  no  reason  to  doubt  that  the  plans  will  be 
pushed  forward  and  the  work  of  construction  begun  in  the 
early  spring.  The  City  Architect  proposes  to  associate  with 
him  in  the  work  some  of  the  best  architectural  talent  in  the 
country,  and  to  erect  a  substantial  fire-proof  library  within  the 
limits    of   the   appropriation. 

I  would  call  attention  to  the  fact  that  public  buildings  con- 
structed under  the  new  ordinance  for  building  lately  passed 
by  the  State  Legislature  will  require  much  larger  appropria- 
tions for  their  erection  than  have  heretofore  been  necessary, 
on  account  of  the  increase  in  thickness  of  masonry  and  the 
large  amount   of   fire-proof  material   required   to   be    used. 

Respectfully    submitted, 

ARTHUR   H.    VINAL, 

City  Architect. 


APPENDIX.  79 


APPENDIX    C. 


Department  for  the    Survey  and  Inspection  of  Buildings, 

Old  State-House,  December  21,  1885. 

Hon.  Hugh  O'Brien,  Mayor:  — 

Dear  Sir,  —  In  compliance  with  your  request,  that  I  furnish 
you  a  brief  statement  of  the  work  accomplished  by  this 
department  during  the  present  municipal  year,  also  a  state- 
ment of  the  wants  of  the  department,  prospectively,  for  the 
continuation  of  its  work,  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the 
following :  — 

There  has  been  an  increased  activity  in  the  building  interest 
in  all  sections  of  the  city,  —  a  decided  increase  over  the 
previous   year. 

This  has  been  uniform,  and  we  are  constantly  adding  palatial 
residences  and  family  hotels,  sightly  warehouses,  large  manufact- 
uring establishments,  stately  mercantile  buildings,  and  imposing 
public  edifices.  In  addition  to  these,  there  has  been  a  very 
large  increase  in  the  number  of  moderate-cost  dwelling- 
houses  erected  in  our  suburban  wards,  which  indicates  that 
the  citizens  of  Boston  seeking  investments  in  real  property 
have  unlimited   confidence   in  the  future  of   our   cjty. 

The  tables  herewith  annexed  will  show  the  number  of 
buildings  for  which  permits  have  been  issued  during  the 
years  1884,  1885,  material  of  construction,  and  their  ward 
locations ;  also  the  number  of  completed  buildings  upon 
which  final  reports  have  been  rendered,  and  their  estimated 
cost  (during  the   year). 

The    numerous    and    extensive    alterations    in   our   prominent 


80  APPENDIX. 

buildings  have  required  on  the  part  of  the  department  much 
time,  thought,  and  attention,  have  involved  large  expenditures 
of  money,  and  given  employ'ment  to  a  small  army  of  skilled 
workmen  and  laborers,  and  have  not  only  beautified  and  embel- 
lished the  property,  but  have  also  added  large  increased 
valuations   to   the    taxable   property   of    Boston. 

By  the  new  Building  Laws  of  our  city7,  which  passed  the 
last  Legislature  and  received  the  signature  of  His  Excellency 
the  Governor  on  the  19th  of  June  last,  together  with  the 
Special  and  Public  Statutes  and  Ordinances  of  the  city,  the 
enforcement  of  which  devolves  upon  this  department,  the 
duties  of    the    department   have   been    largely   increased. 

The  entire  work  of  the  department  has  been  performed 
with  untiring  energy,  and,  notwithstanding  the  great  draw- 
backs, it  has  been  accomplished  with  comparatively  small 
friction ;  and  I  take  pleasure  in  saying  that  the  department 
has  uniformly  received  the  sympathy  and  hearty  cooperation 
of  architects  and  master-builders  in  the  enforcement  of  the  law. 

As  to  the  future  wants  of  the  department  for  the  prose- 
cution of  its  work,  I  am  thoroughly  persuaded  that  the 
interests  of  the  city  will  be  best  served,  and  more  accurate 
and  efficient  work  rendered  by  the  department,  could  the  area 
in  the  districts  to  which  the  assistant-inspectors  are  severally 
assigned   be   decreased. 

As  it  now  stands  they  are  unable  to  accomplish  the  work 
demanded   of  them    by  the  statutes  and  ordinances  of   the  city. 

In  order  to  accomplish  this  work  it  will  be  necessary  to 
increase    the   force    of    assistant-inspectors   by   at   least   two. 

The  annual  report  will  be  submitted  early  in  the  year,  will 
contain  a  complete  detail  statement  of  the  work  accomplished, 
together    with    such   suggestions    in    relation    to    the    future  con- 


APPENDIX.  81 

struction  of  our  cit}r  as  experience  may  demonstrate  as 
essential. 

The  number  of  completed  brick  buildings  upon  which  final 
reports  have  been  rendered  during  the  year  is  350,  at  an  esti- 
mated cost  of  $6,118,400. 

The  number  of  completed  wooden  buildings  upon  which  final 
reports  have  been  rendered  during  the  year  is  1,439,  at  an 
estimated  cost  of  $4,478,203. 

The  number  of  alterations  completed  during  the  year  is  1,895, 
at  an  estimated  cost  of  $2,367,027. 

Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  a  capital  of  $12,963,630  has  been 
invested  in  the  building  interests  of  Boston,  as  shown  by  the 
records  of  completed  work  of  this  department  for  the  year 
1885. 

The  number  of  permits  granted  to  perform  plumbing  to  De- 
cember 18  is  2,855. 

The  number  of  buildings  in  which  plumbing  has  been  com- 
pleted to  December  8  is  2,370,  at  an  estimated  cost  of 
$639,537. 


82 


APPENDIX 


Wards. 

1885, 
To  Dec.  18th. 

1884. 

Brick. 

Wood. 

Brick. 

Wood. 

107 

2 

26 

4 

25 

1 

43 

10 

1 

25 

4 

2 

36 

1 

12 

3 

12 

21 

14 

5 

1 

4 

5 

8 

1 

4 

4 

5 

4 

106 

1 

77 

23 

18 

13 

5 

28 

3 

3 

14 

8 

99 

28 

71 

1 

37 

46 

6 

15 

17 

4 

2 

8 

8 

27 

1 

19 

22 

29 

21 

15 

150 

11 

83 

11 

118 

16 

102 

22 

76 

50 

45 

76 

5 

196 

4 

202 

11 

301 

6 

210 

2 

133 

1 

129 

Total  .  .  . 

337 

1,327 

312 

1,125 

I  am,  very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  8.  DAMRELL, 

Inspector  of  Buildings. 


APPENDIX.  83 


APPENDIX    D. 


Public  Library  of  the  City  of  Boston, 

Boston,    December   21,    1885. 

Hon.  Hugh  O'Brien,  Mayor :  — 

Sir,  —  In  conformity  with  the  request  contained  in  your 
favor  of  the  16th  inst.  I  have  the  honor  to  make  the  fol- 
lowing  "brief   statement":  — 

By  the  new  City  Ordinance  the  Trustees  of  the  Library 
are  required  to  make  their  annual  report  in  January,  instead 
of   the    end   of  the   financial   year   of   the    city. 

The  condition  of  the  institution  for  the  first  four  months 
of  the  year  was  embraced  in  the  totals  of  the  Annual  Re- 
port  made   to   the   City   Council.     (City   Document   No.    105.) 

Separating  the  details  of  the  use  of  books  to  the  first  of 
May,  it  gives  a  total  of  419,212  volumes.  Since  that  date 
the  issues  to  the  first  of  December  have  been  509,391, 
which,  with  the  estimated  deliveries  of  December,  will  give 
a   total   of    1,030,706    volumes. 

The  expenditures  for  the  first  four  months  under  the  old 
appropriation  of  $120,000  per  annum  were  $41,179.73.  For 
the  last  eight  months,  under  the  reduced  appropriation,  there 
has  been  withdrawn  from  the  city  treasury  $69,987.45,  which 
is  within  the  monthly  average  that  the  Trustees  were  author- 
ized to  expend.  The  reduction  has  mainly  fallen  upon  the 
purchases    for   popular  reading. 

On  the  first  of  Ma}T  there  were  in  the  Bates  Hall  Library, 
inclusive  of  bound  newspapers  and  duplicates,  289,917  vol- 
umes,   and    in    the    popular    libraries    164,030   volumes.      The 


84  APPENDIX. 

total  increase  since  has  been  8,265  volumes,  making  the 
whole    number   of   books   in   the   whole   collection   462,212. 

The  salaries  paid  for  the  library  service  are  uniformly 
moderate,  and  in  many  instances  too  low.  The  city  has 
every  reason  to  be  satisfied  with  the  quality  of  the  work 
done. 

By  the  general  terms  of  the  donations  to  the  library  of 
the  trust-funds  their  interest  is  expended  in  books  of  per- 
manent  value,    which   are   added   to  the   Bates  Hall   collection. 

Negotiations  are  in  progress  for  a  rearrangement  of  the 
contract  with  the  Trustees  of  the  Fellowes  Athenaeum,  at 
Roxbury,  by  which  it  is  expected  that  the  expenditures  for 
the   Roxbury   branch   will   be   reduced. 

It  is  to  be  hoped  for  the  usefulness  of  the  institution  that 
the  appropriation  for  expenditures  of  $10,000  per  month, 
or  $120,000  per  annum,  will  be  restored  from  first  of  May. 
Its  popularity  with  the  larger  number  of  readers  in  the  city 
and  districts  depends  mainly  upon  its  ability  to  purchase  the 
current   books   of   interest   of   the   day. 

Library   Building. 

By  the  order  of  the  City  Council,  approved  by  the  Mayor 
on  the  31st  March  of  the  present  year,  "the  City  Architect 
is  directed  to  prepare  plans  for  a  library  building  to  be 
erected  on  the  lot  of  land  on  Dartmouth  street  held  by  the 
city  for  that  purpose,  and  to  submit  the  same  to  the 
Trustees   of   the   Public   Library    for   their    approval." 

The  problems  of  the  construction  of  this  most  important 
edifice  appear  to  be  in  a  fair  way  of  solution,  the  larger 
difficulty  having  apparently  been  overcome.  It  is  hoped 
and   expected    that    work   will    be   begun    in    the    early    spring, 


APPENDIX.  85 

and  that  a  fire-proof  building,  well  ventilated  and  warmed, 
and  well  lighted  throughout,  with  sufficient  storage  for  books, 
and  with  such  convenience  of  access  and  use  as  will  meet 
its  large  requirements,  will  be  constructed  without  exceeding 
the    amount   of   the    proposed   loan    for   this    object. 

Respectfully   yours, 

W.    W.    GREENOUGH, 

President    Trustees   Public  Library. 


APPENDIX    E. 


Office  of  the  Clerk  of  Committees,  City  of  Boston, 

City  Hall,  December  19,   1885. 

To  His  Honor  Mayor  Hugh  O'Brien  :  — 

Dear  Sir,  —  In  response  to  your  request  for  a  statement 
regarding  the  work  of  this  office  the  past  year,  etc.,  I  have 
to  say  that  the  work  itself  is  mainly  of  a  clerical  nature,  and 
involves  attendance  upon  the  various  committees  of  the  City 
Council,  the  keeping  of  records  for  them,  and  the  preparation 
of  their  reports  and  papers  to  be  presented  to  the  City  Council. 
In  addition  to  these,  that  might  be  termed  regular  duties,  the 
clerk  is  expected  to  furnish  information  and  service  of  varied 
character  to  individual  members  of  the  City  Council,  city  offi- 
cials, and  to  a  certain  extent  to  the  public  at  large. 

We  have  had  charge  of  94  committees  this  year,  which  may 
be  classified  as  follows :  Standing,  32 ;  special,  31  ;  nominat- 
ing, 31.  Number  of  committee  meetings  attended  by  the  clerk 
and  his  assistants  to  the  present  time,  521. 


86  APPENDIX. 

Among  the  more  important  matters  that  have  been  considered 
by  the  committees  may  be  mentioned  the  Revised  Ordinances, 
as  prepared  by  the  commission  appointed  to  make  the  changes 
that  were  required  under  the  "new  charter"  (Chap.  266,  Acts 
of  1885)  ;  the  investigation  of  the  action  of  the  Water  Board 
regarding  the  purchase  of  land  on  Fisher  Hill  as  a  reservoir 
site  for  the  high-service  system,  one  of  the  most  protracted 
and  extensive  investigations  ever  conducted  in  City  Hall ;  the 
investigation  of  the  contract  of  the  Water  Board  for  purchas- 
ing pumping-machinery  of  the  Worthingtons,  of  New  York  ;  the 
horse-car  blockades ;  the  memorial  services  in  honor  of  Gen. 
U.  S.  Grant,  arranged  by  a  special  committee ;  the  decennial 
division  of   the  city  into  wards. 

The  consolidated  index  to  the  City  Council  proceeedings,  pre- 
pared by  Mr.  W.  JI.  Lee,  the  former  clerk,  has  been  completed 
and  published  this  }'ear. 

The  work  of  superintending  licensed  minors,  receiving  their 
applications,  etc.,  formerly  carried  on  by  the  truant-officers, 
has  been  placed  upon  this  department  on  account  of  the  School 
Committee  relinquishing  it  the  past  summer. 

The  "new  charter"  has  in  a  great  measure  abolished  the 
powers  formerly  exercised  by  committees,  and  their  labors  have 
been  proportionately  reduced,  but  the  business  of  the  office  has 
not  been  lessened  in  consequence,  although  its  character  has 
been  changed  somewhat  on  account  of   the  new  law. 

I  should  not   consider   our   present   force   more    than    will   be 

necessary  to  enable  us  to  properly    perform   the   labor   required 

of  us. 

Very  respectfully  yours, 

JAMES   L.    HILLARD, 

Clerk  of  Committees. 


APPENDIX. 


87 


APPENDIX    F. 


Sealer's  Office,  December  21,  1885. 

To  His  Honor  the  Mayor :  — 

In  accordance  with  your  request,  I  hereby  hand  you  a 
statement  of  the  doings  of  this  department  from  January  1, 
1885,    to   date:  — 


Number   of   Scales  tested 

8,314 

"             Weights  "            ... 

.       32,364 

"             Dry   measures,    tested 

5,209 

"             Wet         "                 " 

6,606 

"             Yardsticks                 " 

496 

"             Charcoal   baskets    " 

6 

"             Coal                "         "            • 

93 

"             Grain  tubs                " 

4 

Amount   received   for   sealing 

.       $2,918  86 

u                 "            adjusting 

164  01 

Total   amount   received    . 


$3,082  87 


Previous  to  May  1,  1881,  all  portable  scales,  weights,  and 
measures  were  brought  to  the  Sealer's  office,  for  sealing  and 
adjusting,  free  of  expense.  This  system  was  unsatisfactory 
to  merchants  of  the  city,  inasmuch  as  all  their  scales  could 
not  be  spared  from  their  places  of  business  at  the  same 
time,  and  several  trips  to  the  Sealer's  office  were  thereby 
necessitated.  With  a  view  to  remedying  this  inconvenience 
the  Committee   on   Markets,   Weights,   and    Measures    changed 


88  APPENDIX. 

the  system  so  that  those  that  preferred  sealing  at  their  places 
of  business  could  be  accommodated  b}^  payment  of  the  fees 
provided   in   the   Public   Statutes. 

Now  the  merchants  that  aim  at  keeping  their  scales, 
weights,  and  measures  correct,  complain  much  at  the  payment 
of  any  fees  for  inspecting  and  sealing,  especially  when  they 
are  found  by  the  Sealer  to  accord  with  the  standards.  They 
claim  that  the  purchasing  public  are  protected  by  sealing 
against  incorrect  or  false  weights,  while  they  must  pay,  not- 
withstanding their  scales,  weights,  and  measures  are  found 
to   be   correct. 

I  would  respectfully  recommend  for  Your  Honor's  consid- 
eration that  all  fees  be  abolished,  and  that  all  testing,  adjust- 
ing,   and   sealing   be   done   free   of   expense   to  owner  of  same. 

Respectfully   submitted, 

MICHAEL   D.    COLLINS, 

Sealer  of    Weights   and   Measures. 


APPENDIX    G. 


December  18,  1885. 
Hon.  Hugh   O'Brien,  Mayor:  — 

Dear  Sir,  —  Mount  Hope  Cemetery  contains  one  hundred 
and  six  and  three-fourths  (lOGf)  acres  of  land,  one-half  being 
converted  into  lots,  graves,  avenues,  walks,  and  borders,  seven 
(7)  miles  of  which  are  avenues  and  walks,  and  fourteen  (14) 
miles  borders.  The  avenues  and  walks  are  to  be  kept  clean 
and    in    repair,  and    the  borders    are   lawn-mowed    once    a  week 


APPENDIX.  89 

through  the  season.  We  have  raised  and  planted  one  hun- 
dred and  fifteen  (115)  thousand  plants,  and  cared  for  the 
same.  We  have  six  hundred  and  seventy-five  (675)  lots  to 
care  for,  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  (175)  of  which  are 
under  perpetual  care.  Nearly  two  acres  of  filling  have  been 
completed  from  four  (4)  to  eight  (8)  feet  deep.  This,  with 
the  usual  number  of  graves  to  be  prepared  for  the  public  lot 
and  city  poor,  with  the  partial  completion  of  fifty-two  (52) 
lots,  constitutes  the  most  part  of  work  performed  thus  far. 
There  are  a  number  of  incidentals,  such  as  foundations  for 
head-stones  and  monuments  and  repairing  of  various  kinds. 
That  part  of  the  cemetery  known  as  the  city  poor  lot  is 
nearly  consumed  for  the  burial  of  the  city  poor,  and  it  would 
be  advisable  for  the  city  to  look  ahead  to  its  future  needs. 
The  time  will  come,  and  at  no  distant  day,  when  we  must 
have  more  land  for  our  city  poor,  and  the  longer  the  delay 
the  greater  the  price.  There  is  land  that  we  can  get  at  a 
fair  price  to-day ;  what  the  price  will  be  a  year  from  now 
none  can  tell.  I  hope  I  have  given  }*ou  the  desired  informa- 
tion ;  if  not,  I  shall  be  pleased  to  enlighten  you  further  in 
the   matter,  if  I  can. 

Respectfully   yours, 

J.  E.  E.  GOWARD, 

Superintendent. 


90  APPENDIX 


APPENDIX    H. 


Office  of  Superintendent  of  Health, 

Boston,   December   22,    1885. 

Hon.    Hugh   O'Brien,    Mayor :  — 

Dear  Sir,  —  In  reply  to  your  circular  of  December  16, 
requesting  a  statement  of  the  work  done  by  the  Health 
Department  the  past  year,  I  have  to  report  that  the  work 
of  collecting  ashes  and  garbage,  cleaning  streets  and  cess- 
pools in  the  city  proper  has  been  performed  in  a  satisfactory 
manner ;  but  few  complaints  have  been  received.  In  the 
outlying  district  the  work  has  not  been  satisfactory.  The  ashes 
and  garbage  should  be  removed  with  more  regularity.  To  do 
this  work  additional  teams  and  men  will  be  required  for  the 
coming   year. 

The  estimates  of  expenditures  of  the  Inspector  of  Milk 
have  always  been  placed  with  those  of  this  department. 
They  have  been  small  until  the  last  two  years,  not  over 
five  hundred  dollars  above  the  salaries.  Now  they  call  for 
several  thousands.  I  believe  they  should  conduct  their  depart- 
ment  independent   of   ours. 

This  department  has  employed  three  teams  for  conveying 
prisoners  from  the  several  station-houses  to  the  court-house, 
jail,  and  boat.  These  teams  should  be  under  the  charge  of 
the  Police  Department,  and  I  would  suggest  they  be  trans- 
ferred to  said  department,  the  expense  to  be  charged  to 
them. 

An    additional   appropriation    of  $12,000  will   be   required    at 


APPENDIX.  91 

once   to   pay    for    the    Barney   Dumping    Boat,     for    which    no 
estimates    were    made    in    this    year's    appropriation. 

Respectfully    submitted, 

GEO.    W.    FORRISTALL, 

Superintendent. 


APPENDIX    I. 


Office   of   the 
Board   of   Directors    of   East   Boston   Ferries, 
East  Boston,   December   19,    1885. 
Hon.    Hugh   O'Brien,    Mayor:  — 

Dear  Sir,  —  I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt 
of  your  communication,  and  in  reply  would  respectfully  state 
that  the  expenditures  and  receipts  for  this  department  in  the 
year  1885,  including  drafts  and  requisitions,  drawn  this  month 
to   date,   have   been   as   follows :  — 


Expenditures. 

On   account   of   new  tank            .... 

$147  50 

"              new   slips         .... 

12,220  80 

"               new   head-house 

30,880  95 

"               current  expenses  and  repairs     . 

225,946  32 

Receipts. 

$269,195  57 

From   tolls,    etc.,    from    January    1,    1885,    to 

December   19,    1885           .... 

$151,327  06 

Estimated   from  December  19,  1885,  to  Janu- 

ary  1,    1886      

5,330  00 

Rent   due   and   payable   January    1,    1886 

631  67 

$157,288  73 

92  APPENDIX. 

The  boats  are  in  a  very  good  condition,  except  the  steamer 
"  Lincoln,"  and  I  would  respectfully  renew  the  request  made 
by  the  Board,  in  the  annual  estimate  of  1885-6,  for  a  new 
boat  to  take  her  place.  The  drops  and  slips  are  also  in 
good  condition,  except  the  slips  on  East  Boston  side  of  the 
South   Ferry,    which   will   need   some   repairs. 

The  buildings  on  Boston  side  of  both  ferries  are  in  first- 
class  condition,  having  been  built  within  three  years,  but 
those  on  East  Boston  side  should  be  replaced  with  new  ones 
to  correspond,    as   they   are   far   from   being   what   is   required. 

I  would  state  that  the  average  daily  travel  is  about  25,000 
foot-passengers   and   1,800   teams. 

I  would  further  state  that  during  the  year  a  change  has  been 

made  in  the  method  of    selling   and  the   collection    of    tickets, 

and   when   the   public  become   accustomed   to   the   change,    and 

the    system    perfected,    I    think    there    will    be    no    cause    for 

complaint. 

I   have   the   honor   to   be 

Your   obedient   servant, 

E.   PEARL, 

President. 


APPENDIX    J. 


Office   of   the 
Board   of   Directors   for   Public   Institutions, 

Boston,    December   21,    1885. 

Hon.    Hugh   O'Brien,    Mayor   of   Boston:  — 

Dear     Sir,  —  The     Board    of    Directors,    in    reply    to    your 
request,    submit   the   following  :  — 

A  question  of  vital  importance,  as  it  affects  the  government 


APPENDIX.  93 

of  the  institutions,  is  the  question :  Of  how  many  members 
the  Board  shall  consist.  By  the  original  act  of  incorpo- 
ration, the  first  section  of  Chapter  35  of  the  Acts  of 
1857,  it  is  provided  that  the  Board  shall  consist  of  twelve 
resident  citizens  of  the  city,  and  Section  4  of  the  same  act 
prescribes  the  manner  in  which  they  shall  be  chosen,  viz.  : 
nine  citizens  at  large,  one  member  of  the  Board  of  Aldermen, 
and   two   members   of  the   Common   Council. 

By  the  provisions  of  the  new  city  charter  any  representation 
of  the  City  Council  on  any  Board  is  directly  prohibited.  This 
act  of  course  vitiates,  in  part,  Section  4  of  the  act  of  incorpo- 
ration of  our  Board,  and  still  does  not  repeal  the  first  section, 
which  declares  the  Board  shall  consist  of  twelve,  except  by 
inference. 

This  uncertainty  can  only  be  removed  by  appropriate  legis- 
lation, which  we  would  respectfully  suggest  you  should 
recommend. 

During  the  year  just  closing  the  capacity  of  the  institutions 
has  been  severely  taxed.  At  the  present  time  beds  have  been 
placed  in  the  corridors  of  two  of  the  pauper  institutions,  and 
Deer  Island  has  never  been  crowded  as  it  now  is ;  while  the 
Lunatic  Hospital,  at  South  Boston,  is  so  very  much  over- 
crowded as  to  be  of  no  practical  benefit  for  hospital  purposes, 
thus   making   it   almost   impossible   to   effect   a   cure. 

With  every  inch  of  available  space  taken  up,  the  inability 
of  the  institutions  to  furnish  proper  accommodations  for  Boston's 
charges  becomes  every  day  more  apparent,  and  the  advisability 
of  pushing  forward  with  all  possible  speed  the  erections  of 
buildings  on  Long  Island  to  accommodate  all  Boston's  paupers, 
male    and   female,    cannot   be   questioned. 

The  removal  of  the  female  paupers  from  Austin  Farm  to 
Long   Island,    when    the    proposed    building   is   completed,   will 


91  APPENDIX. 

relieve,  in  some  measure,   the  Lunatic  Hospital  by  the  removal 
of   the    chronic  cases. 

A  very  important  matter  is  the  question  of  appropriations. 
For  -years  the  Board  has  been  reducing  its  expenses  as  well 
as  could  be  done  with  the  ever-increasing  number  committed 
to  their  charge,  and  this  year  they  asked  for  a  much  less 
sum  than  was  asked  the  year  before.  The  amount  was  exactly 
what  it  cost  to  run  the  institutions  for  the  year  previous ; 
but  when  it  was  submitted  to  the  Government  it  was  cut 
down  indiscriminately,  far  below  a  living  figure.  Then  came 
the  Limitation  Act  of  the  last  Legislature,  and  a  horizontal 
reduction  of  ten  per  cent,  was  again  made,  though  the  reduc- 
tion might  better  have  been  made  in  other  directions.  The 
result  is  there  is  not  money  enough  to  pay  the  expenses  for 
the  year.  Our  appropriations  have  suffered  in  like  manner 
before,  and  as  our  expenses  are  in  all  cases  entailed  on  us 
by  the  Court,  they  of  course  must  be  met ;  and,  as  the 
result  of  the  present  system,  we  are  obliged  to  make  re- 
peated demands  on  the  Government.  It  does  appear  to  us 
that  some  other  method  of  making  appropriations  for  what 
are    practically    fixed    charges    should   be   recommended. 

Boston  sets  the  example  for  most  of  the  institutions  of  the 
country ;  but  while  her  system  is  excellent,  her  humanity 
unsurpassed,  and  her  care  of  the  needs  and  comfort  of  her 
unfortunates  unequalled,  yet  her  buildings  are  far  below  the 
standard  of  many  of  our  sister  cities.  And  we  feel  that 
when  this  want  is  met  Boston's  poor  and  unfortunate  will 
be  better  taken  care  of  for  less  money  than  in  any  other  city 
in  the  Union. 

Yours   very   respectfully, 

J.  H.  O'NEIL, 
President  Board  of  Directors. 


APPENDIX.  95 


APPENDIX 


Office  of  the  Board  of  Fire  Commissioners, 

City  Hall,  Boston,  December  21,  1885. 

To  His  Honor  Hugh  O'Brien,  Mayor,   City  of  Boston:  — 

Sir, — In  reply  to  your  request  of  the  16th  inst.,  the 
Board  of  Fire  Commissioners  herewith  submits  a  brief  state- 
ment  of  facts    concerning   this   department   the    past  year. 

The  organization  of  the  department  during  the  year  has 
not  materially  changed.  It  consists  of,  besides  the  Board  of 
Commissioners,  the  Chief  Engineer  and  Assistants,  32  Engine 
Companies,  including  the  Fire-boat  Co.,  14  Ladder  Cos., 
10  Independent  Hose  Cos.,  6  Chemical  Engine  Cos.,  a  Water 
Tower,  and  Aerial  Ladder  Co.,  a  force  of  336  permanent 
and   309    call-men. 

By  the  resignation  of  Engineer  Cunningham,  of  District  3, 
Engineer  Abbott,  of  District  6,  was  transferred  to  that  dis- 
trict, and  under  the  civil-service  rules  Capt.  John  A. 
Mullen,    of  Engine   Co.    15,    was   promoted   to  fill  the  vacancy. 

The  houses  of  the  department  are  in  good  condition,  and 
have  received  from  time  to  time  the  necessary  attention  to 
keep  them  in  comfortable  and  good  order.  During  the  year 
the  new  house,  for  the  accommodation  of  Ladder  Co.  9,  and 
Hose  Co.  1,  on  Main  street,  Charlestown,  has  been  completed 
and  occupied.  The  new  house  on  Saratoga  street,  East 
Boston,  is  fast  approaching  completion,  and  is  expected  to 
be   ready   for   occupancy   by   March   next. 

The  foundation  for  the  new  house  to  be  erected  on  the 
corner   of   Boylston    and  Hereford    streets   is    being  laid. 


96  APPENDIX. 

A  lot  of  land  has  recently  been  purchased  for  an  engine- 
house  on  Monument  street,  Charlestown,  and  it  is  proposed 
to   locate    Hose    Co.    4    there    when   completed. 

The  Apparatus  Repair-Shop,  located  at  the  corner  of 
Albany  and  Bristol  streets,  has  been  completed,  and  thoroughly 
fitted  with  new  machinery  of  improved  pattern ;  the  building 
is    also   used  as  a  storehouse  for  supplies  and  spare  apparatus. 

The  apparatus  is  in  general  good  condition.  Contracts 
have  been  made  for  building  a  new  chemical  engine  to  be 
located   in   East   Boston,    also   for   a   new   ladder   truck. 

The  hose,  about  70,000  feet  in  all,  is  in  serviceable  condi- 
tion.    Contracts    for  some  6,000  feet  have  been  recently  made. 

The  horses,  some  166  in  number,  are  in  good  condition. 
No  serious  epidemic  has  appeared  during  the  year.  Old 
age  or  other  troubles  necessitates  a  renewal  of  about  12 
per   cent,    of    the    horses    annually. 

The   city   has   been    remarkably   free    from   extensive   fires. 

The  total  number  of  alarms  was  778,  and  the  loss  on 
buildings  and  contents  about  $1,200,000.  The  number  of 
fires   whose   loss    exceeded   $20,000   was    11. 

The  Fire  Alarm  Telegraph  branch  of  the  department  is 
under  the  charge  of  a  superintendent,  who  is  assisted  by  the 
following  subordinates :  one  assistant-superintendent,  three 
operators,  one  foreman  of  construction,  ten  linemen,  and 
one   battery-man. 

Some  new  apparatus  has  been  added  and  other  improve- 
ments made  at  head-quarters,  and  reconstruction  of  the  circuits 
completed  at  the  South  End,  North  End,  and  Roxbury,  with 
several  new  gong  circuits,  and  extended  telephones  requiring 
the  use  of  84  miles  of  new  wire,  with  the  necessary  equip- 
ment  of    insulators,    etc.,    and    133    poles.      There   are   about 


APPENDIX.  97 

350     miles     of     wire,    making    49     bell-strikers,    96    gongs,    42 
tappers,    and   59    telephones. 

Respectfulry    submitted, 

H.    W.    LONGLEY, 
Chairman   Board   of   Fire    Commissioners. 


APPENDIX    L. 


Boston   Water   Board   Office, 

December    21,    1885. 
Hon.    Hugh  O'Brien,    Mayor:  — 

In  response  to  your  circular  of  the  17th  inst.,  the  Boston 
Water    Board    present    the    subjoined    summary   of    the    condi- 

i 

tion   of    their   department. 

Of  the  works  of  construction,  which  were  in  progress  at 
the  date  of  the  last  report  of  the  Water  Board  to  the  City 
Council,  the  Dam  and  Basin  No.  4  are  completed  within 
the  estimates. 

The  conduit  across  Farm  Pond  should  have  been  com- 
pleted, according  to  the  contract,  October  1,  1885,  but, 
although  an  extension  of  two  months  was  granted  to  the 
contractors,  they  failed  to  complete  the  work.  It  is,  how- 
ever, so  far  advanced  that  it  can  be  finished,  ready  for  use, 
by   June    1. 

The  high-service  works,  for  which  the  City  Council  of 
1884  appropriated  $765,000,  and  for  which  the  principal 
reservoir  site  has  been  located  at  Fisher  Hill,  may  be  so 
far  completed  by  the  end  of  1886  as  to  put  into  use  the 
reservoir    at    the    point    named,     provided     there    be    no    hin- 


98  APPENDIX. 

drance  as  to  the  construction  of  reservoir  and  pumps.  You 
are  aware  that  there  is  an  unsettled  question  as  to  the 
pumps,  upon  which  the  action  of  the  City  Council  is 
required. 

The  condition  of  the  reservoirs  and  supply  is  such  that 
the  contemplated  cleansing  of  Basin  3  can  be  safely  and 
advantageously    done   during   the    coming    season. 

The  existing  appropriations  for  additional  supply  will  un- 
doubtedly  meet   the    cost   of   this   work. 

It  is  not  expected  that  any  new  works  of  construction  or 
repair  requiring  any  considerable  expenditure  of  money  will 
be  undertaken  during  1886,  unless  they  arise  from  legisla- 
tion respecting  new  sources  of  supply,  or  as  a  sequence  of 
the  drainage  projects,  which  are  also  to  be  the  subjects  of 
legislative   consideration. 

As  estimated  at  the  beginning  of  the  financial  year  there 
will  be  a  considerable  surplus  of  revenue  in  the  Cochituate 
department,    if   the   prescribed    water-rates    are   maintained. 

The  supply  is  at  present  ample,  and  promises  to  be  so 
during  the  coming  year.  The  consumption  per  capita  has 
fallen  off  gradually  to  an  average  of  less  than  70  gallons  per 
head  per  day.  This  is  due  to  several  causes,  among  which 
are  the  use  of  waste  detectors,  the  surveillance  of  inspectors, 
the  discrimination  of  rates  against  wasteful  fixtures,  and,  to  a 
veiy   limited   extent,    the    application    of    meters. 

The  Meter  Division  has  for  some  time  labored  under  the 
disadvantage  of  operating  with  a  large  number  of  faulty 
meters,  and  some  months  may  elapse  before  we  can  place 
matters  in  this  division  on  a  satisfactory  footing.  In  that 
division,  and  also  in  that  of  inspection  and  wnste,  the 
expenses  have  been  unnecessarily  large.  We  have  made  some 
reductions   of    force. 


APPENDIX.  99 

The  quality  of  the  water  has  been  considerably  improved, 
and  it  is  to-day  fully  equal  to  that  of  any  large  city  in 
America.  But  the  possibilities  of  improvement  are  not  ex- 
hausted,   and   we   shall    continue   our   efforts    in    this  direction. 

As  the  City  Council  has  authorized  an  application  to  the 
Legislature  for  the  waters  of  the  Shawshine,  they  are  sub- 
stantially advised  that  it  is  hoped  to  substitute  these  waters 
for  such  parts  of  the  Mystic  supply  as  are  liable  to  excessive 
deterioration.  If  a  legislative  grant  shall  be  obtained  the 
matter  of  methods  to  be  adopted  in  making  available  the 
new  supply  will  be  the  subject  of  timely  communication.  By 
authority  of  the  City  Council  special  surveys  in  the  line  of 
this  inquiry  have  been  authorized,  and  under  our  direction  they 
have   already    been   begun   by   the   City   Engineer. 

Boston   Water   Board,  by 

H.  T.  ROCKWELL, 

Chairman. 


APPENDIX    M. 


Sewer   Department,    City   Hall, 

Boston,    December   20,  1885. 
Hon.    Hugh   O'Brien  :  — 

Dear  Sir,  —  In  answer  to  your  request  for  a  statement  in 
relation  to  work  done  by  the  Sewer  Department  during  the 
past  year,  I  would  say  that  the  department  has  built  about 
12-J   miles  of   sewers,    and   expended   $319,864.98. 

A  main  sewer  has  been  built  in  Washington  street,  from 
Forest-Hills  station    to    Roslindale,    to    drain    a   district   which 


100  APPENDIX. 

has  Deeded  a  system  of  sewerage  for  a  number  of  years. 
Also  a  main  sewer  in  Dorchester  District  across  the  low  land 
lying  between  Washington  street  and  Blue-Hill  avenue,  which 
has  opened  for  building  purposes  some  five  hundred  acres  of 
land,  upon  which  considerable  building  has  been  done  during 
the   past   year. 

Also  two  large  main  sewers  have  been  built  in  the  Brigh- 
ton District,  which  will  drain  a  district  heretofore  undeveloped. 

There  are  at  the  present  time  a  considerable  number  of  sew- 
ers draining  into  that  portion  of  Stony  Brook  between  Hunt- 
ington avenue  and  Beacon  street,  which  should  at  once  be 
removed. 

There  has  been  an  unusual  number  of  small  sewers  built 
during  the  year.  The  demand  for  these  sewers  in  districts 
not  covered  by  a  loan  has  been  so  great  and  the  appro- 
priation so  small  that  the  committee  have  not  felt  warranted 
in  taking  any  action  on  a  number  of  petitions  now  on  file 
in   this   office. 

There  have  been  about  155  catch-basins  built  during  the 
year  to  take  the  surface  water  from  the  streets,  and  the 
amount  needed  yearly  for  this  kind  of  work  should  not  be 
stinted  if  we  wish  to  have  our  streets  kept  in    good  condition. 

The  department  is  now  at  work  on  an  intercepting  sewer 
between  Crescent  avenue  and  Greenwich  street,  in  the  Dor- 
chester District,  to  take  the  drainage  now  emptying  into  Dor- 
chester Bay.     This  will  not  be  in  operation  until  next  summer. 

It  will  be  necessary  the  coming  year  to  drain  the  district 
about  Ashmont  station,  and  to  accomplish  this  a  main  sewer 
should    be  built  from    Neponset   avenue  to  Ashmont   station. 

As  the  care  and  maintenance  of  Stony  Brook  are  in  charge 
of   this   department  there  will  have  to  be  a  separate  appropria- 


APPENDIX.  101 

tion,  or  an  amount  included  in  the  regular  one,  to  keep  the 
walls  in  repair ;  and  as  a  greater  part  of  the  brook  is  an 
open  channel,  it  becomes  necessary  to  clean  the  same  about 
twice   a   year. 

This  department  has,  in  accordance  with  your  recommenda- 
tion, made  a  survey  of  all  the  old  sewers  in  the  city  proper, 
East  and  South  Boston,  and  Charlestown  districts,  and,  with 
the  aid  of  a  generous  appropriation,  will  put  the  sewers  in 
those  districts  in  a  suitable  condition.  Some  of  these  will 
have  to  be  rebuilt ;  but  the  greater  part  of  them  can  be 
repaired  at  a  moderate  cost,  so  as  to  be  made  serviceable  for 
a  number  of  years  to  come,  and  are  not  so  defective  as  some 
people   imagine. 

This  department  has  constructed  and  under  its  control  about 
238  miles  of  sewers,  while  the  Engineer's  Department  con- 
trols the  main  outlet,  about  13J  miles.  While  the  duty  of 
providing  for  the  successful  drainage  of  the  whole  city  falls 
directly  upon  the  Sewer  Department,  and  it  is  held  respon- 
sible for  all  shortcomings,  the  ultimate  disposal  of  sewage  is 
beyond  its    control. 

The  Board  of  Aldermen  passed  an  order  giving  this  depart- 
ment control  of  the  whole,  and  the  Common  Council  voted  to 
refer  the  subject  to  the  next  City  Government.  I  can  only 
add  that,  in  my  judgment,  this  department  should  have  entire 
control   of   the  whole    system. 

Very  truly  yours, 

THOMAS   J.    YOUNG, 

Superintendent  of  Sewers. 


102  APPENDIX 


APPENDIX      N. 


Office  of  the  Board  of  Street  Commissioners, 

City  Hall,  Boston,  December  22,  1885. 

Hon.   Hugh   O'Brien,    Mayor :  — 

Sir,  —  Replying  to  your  request  of  the  16th  inst., 
the  Board  of  Street  Commissioners  submit  the  following 
statement  of  their  work  during  the  municipal  year  now 
ending  :  — 

In  the  city  proper  streets  have  been  widened  by  taking 
9,388  square  feet  of  land,  the  estimated  damages  therefor 
being  $3,865.  548  feet  in  length  of  private  ways  have 
been    built   out   as    public   streets    of    the    city. 

In  Roxbury,  widenings,  extensions,  and  alterations  have 
been  made  to  the  extent  of  6,896  square  feet  of  land  taken, 
the  estimates  being  $10,522.25.  1,643  feet  in  length  of 
private   streets   have    been   made    public. 

Dorchester:  street  widenings  have  taken  53,883  square  feet, 
estimated  $2,200.  7,755  feet  of  private  ways  have  been 
accepted   as   public   streets. 

West  Roxbury  has  had  widenings  made  of  1,071  square 
feet,  estimated  to  cost  $1,121.  4,278  feet  of  private  ways 
have    been    made   public. 

Brighton  has  had  private  ways,  of  a  total  of  1,695  feet 
in   length,    accepted    as   public   streets. 

East  Boston :  2,282  square  feet  taken  for  street  altera- 
tions, estimated  damages  being  $4,307.  2,450  feet  of  private 
streets  accepted. 

In  South  Boston  1,326    feet  of  private    streets   made   public. 


APPENDIX.  103 

Discontinuances  have  been  made  of  37,190  square  feet  of 
old  Warren  Bridge,  at  Charlestown,  and  of  the  streets  at 
South  Boston  Point  east  of  Q  street,  and  in  the  park  land, 
aggregating    5,830    feet   in    length. 

An  addition  of  the  foregoing  shows  a  total  of  72,449  square 
feet,  or  about  If  acres,  taken  for  street  improvements  in  the 
whole  city  during  the  year,  the  estimated  damages  therefor 
being  $20,894.25,  and  19,695  feet,  or  about  3f  miles  of  private 
streets  made  public,  with  5,830  feet,  or  about  ly1^  miles  of  pub- 
lic streets  discontinued. 

A  large  part  of  the  laying  out  of  new  streets  during  the  year 
has  been  to  meet  the  immediate  calls  for  water-supply  and 
drainage. 

The  Commissioners  are  not  aware  of  any  projected  street 
improvements  for  the  ensuing  year  that  will  require  a  large  ex- 
penditure of  money,  and  the  usual  appropriation  for  the  ordi- 
nary work  of  laying  out  and  widening  streets  is  probably  all 
that  will  be  called  for  in  the  annual  estimates. 

Very  respectfully, 

ISAAC    H.    WRIGHT, 

Chairman  Board  of  Street   Commissioners. 


appendix  o. 


Department  of  Parks,  City  op  Boston, 

December  23,  1885. 
To   His   Honor   Mayor   O'Brien  :  — 

Dear  Sir,  —  This  Board  has  received  your  communication 
inquiring  what  has  been  accomplished  by  this  department  up 
to    the    present    time,    and    its   prospective   wants. 


104  APPENDIX. 

The  Back  Ba}-  Improvement  has  progressed,  fulfilling  the 
expectations  of  the  Commissioners  and  the  Engineers.  Situated 
in  marsh  lands  and  flats,  the  place  was  formerly  a  great 
nuisance  by  being  also  the  receptacle  of  the  drainage  of  a 
considerable  population.  It  is  rapidly  assuming  a  somewhat 
comely  appearance.  The  nuisance  formerly  existing  there  has 
been  entirely  removed,  and  by  means  of  ample  and  skilfully 
constructed  conduits  the  waters  of  Stony  Brook  and  Muddy 
River  are  under  control ;  the  waters  of  the  basin  can  be 
changed  at  will,  and  the  bay  kept  in  a  condition  to  add  to 
instead   of    militating   against   the   health    of  the   city. 

The  Commissioners  desire,  if  the  means  can  be  afforded 
them,  to  complete  during  the  coming  3-ear  the  lower  basin 
approached  from  Beacon  street,  Commonwealth  and  Westland 
avenues,  and  to  build  the  bridge  opposite  the  Westland 
avenue  entrance  to  Audubon  road.  This  will  add  to  the 
value  of  the  lands  in  the  vicinity  on  the  city  side  and  bring 
into   use   lands   beyond. 

The  purchase  of  lands  for  the  Muddy  River  Improvement 
goes  on,  but  slowly.  This  has  not  proved  a  loss  to  the 
system  of  parks,  as  all  the  money  the  City  Government  has 
been  disposed  to  allow  for  construction  has  found  outlets  in 
other   directions. 

Not  much  money  has  been  expended  in  Franklin  park, 
formerly  West  Roxbury  park.  Still,  in  the  summer  it  is 
visited  daily  by  thousands  of  our  overtaxed  people  in  search 
of  rest  and  recreation.  Though  the  Commissioners  have  felt 
much  gratification  at  the  benefit  to  the  public  of  this  park 
in  its  present  comparatively  wild  condition,  they  still  are 
desirous  that  some  of  its  features  may  from  time  to  time 
show   themselves.     They   would   accordingly  like    to    clear    the 


APPENDIX.  105 

grounds  of  that  part  which  has  been  called  the  Playsted, 
complete  the  overlooking  terrace,  and  the  roads  around  the 
Playsted. 

Bussey  park  and  Arnold  arboretum,  by  the  joint  labors 
of  the  city  and  Harvard  College,  give  evidences  of  the 
beautiful  spot  it  is  destined  to  be.  The  city  has  already 
expended  $60,000  of  the  $75,000  it  is  required  to  expend 
upon  the  roads  of  this  park  by  its  contract  with  Harvard 
College.  There  is  no  provision  for  any  completion  of  these 
roads  except  by  the  city.  The  expenditure  of  a  larger  than 
the  contract  sum  is  necessary,  and  no  expenditure  can  be 
put  to  a  better  use  than  to  complete  these  roads,  where  all 
else  will  be  done  by  others  to  make  it  one  of  the  most  in- 
teresting  places   in   the   country. 

At  the  Marine  park,  City  Point,  the  Commissioners  are  con- 
structing, of  wood,  what  they  have  called  a  temporary  pier, 
because  it  is  intended  in  the  end  to  be  supplanted  by  solid  fill- 
ing. It  is  also  intended  to  construct  an  iron  pier  beyond  the 
temporary  one.  This  is  so  important  a  feature  of  this  park 
that  the  Commissioners  think  nearly  everything  else  can  await 
its  completion. 

Neptune  road,  leading  to  Wood  Island  park,  has  been  graded 
and  loamed  for  trees.  The  desire  of  the  Commissioners  is  to 
build  the  bridge  over  the  railroad,  thereby  connecting  Neptune 
road  with  the  park  itself. 

The  Charles-river  Embankment  will  require  an  expenditure 
for  roads,  paths,  planting,  etc.,   after  it  has  been  graded. 

If  permitted,  the  Commissioners  would  suggest  that  it  would 
be  well  to  put  the  parks  in  condition  by  a  loan  rather  than  by 
adding  the  annual  expense  to  the  tax  levy.  The  present  cost 
to  the  citizens  would  be  no  more,  while  the  citizens  of  to-day 
would  receive  the  immediate  and  full  benefit  thereof. 


106  APPENDIX. 

By  this  means,  whatever  of  benefit  and  whatever  of  prosper- 
ity are  to  come  from  the  parks  will  accrue  to  our  present  citi- 
zens, rather  than  to  those  who  will  flock  in  to  take  their  places, 
and  the  parks  themselves  be  put  in  condition  at  the  least  ex- 
pense. 

For  the  Board, 

BENJAMIN    DEAN, 

Chairman. 


APPENDIX    P. 


BOARD   OF    HEALTH. 

Hon.    Hugh   O'Brien,   Mayor   of  Boston :  — 

Dear  Sir,  —  At  your  request  we  herewith  transmit  a  brief 
statement  of  the  work  of  the  department  for  the  past  year  and 
the  sanitary  condition  of  the  city  at  the  present  time.  In  antici- 
pation of  a  possible  visitation  of  cholera  to  this  country  the 
spring  cleaning  of  the  streets,  courts,  alley-ways,  yards,  and 
vacant  lots,  and  the  removal  of  all  winter  collections  of  filth 
and  rubbish  in  and  about  dwellings,  were  begun  earlier  than 
usual  and  have  been  vigorously  prosecuted  throughout  the 
season. 

A  large  number  of  ponds  of  stagnant  water  have  been 
drained   off   and   spaces   left   covered   with   gravel. 

Many  thousands  of  feet  of  drain  have  been  built  by  the 
Board  where  neither  the  Sewer  Department  could  do  the  work 
nor  the  individual  owners  be  made  to  agree  to  do  it  them- 
selves. 

Many  wells  have  been  found  in  the  built-up  parts  of  the  city, 
the  waters  examined,  and,  wherever  found  unfit  for  domestic 
purposes,    the   wells   have   been   condemned   and   filled   up. 


APPENDIX.  107 

At  the  instance  of  the  Board  of  Health  last  winter  the 
Legislature  passed  an  act  authorizing  the  Board  to  cause  the 
abolishment  of  all  privy-vaults  where  there  are  sewers  in  the 
streets  adjoining ;  and  under  this  law  the  Board  has  already 
caused  to  disappear  hundreds  of  the  worst  nuisances  that  our 
city   has   ever   had   to   contend   with. 

The  Board  will  renew  its  work  of  destroying  privy-vaults 
early   in   the   spring. 

The  work  of  removing  foul  and  waste  materials  beyond  the 
limits  of  the  city  is  now  well  provided  for  by  the  recent 
purchase  of  a  patent  scow,  which  is  especially  adapted  for  this 
work. 

School-houses,  tenement-houses,  and  other  places  occupied 
by  large  numbers  of  persons  have  been  systematically  visited, 
and  wherever  faults  have  been  found  they  have  been  corrected 
as   far   as   the   Board   has   found   it   practicable   to   do. 

Quarantine  has  been  administered  with  uninterrupted  vigi- 
lance, and  no  case  of  cholera,  yellow  fever,  or  any  other  exotic 
disease  has   found  entrance  into  our  city  during  the  season. 

A  large  amount  of  additional  work  has  been  done  in  quaran- 
tine, owing  to  the  examination  of  all  vessels  from  Canada  and 
the  Provinces,  and  there  has  been  a  corresponding  increase  in 
the  income  for  that  department. 

The  general  health  of  the  city  during  the  past  year  has  been 
good,    and   for   the   last   six   months    exceptionally   so. 

The  mortality  from  preventable  diseases  has  been  almost 
unprecedentedly  low,  and  compares  most  favorably  with  that  of 
other   large   cities    in   this    and   foreign    countries. 

Contagious  diseases,  the  bane  of  all  large  cities,  have  been 
dealt  with  to  the  full  extent  of  the  means  given  to  the  Board 
of   Health. 


108  APPENDIX. 

Small-pox  prevailed  in  this  city  almost  continuously  from 
1840  to  1873,  when,  in  the  midst  of  a  great  epidemic  of  this 
disease,  the  Board  of  Health  was  given  full  power  and  facili- 
ties for  suppressing  the  epidemic.  The  almost  complete 
absence  of  small-pox  from  our  city  during  the  following  twelve 
years,  the  feeling  of  security  against  this  pestilence  by  our 
people,  and  its  effect  upon  the  business  interests  of  the  city 
are  too  well  known  to  need  further  comment  here. 

The  Board  of  Health  complains  that,  while  ample  provision 
is  made  for  the  care  of  small-pox  patients,  almost  no  means 
are  afforded  for  the  isolation  of  scarlet  fever  and  diphtheria, 
and  that  the  Board  is  almost  helpless  in  its  desire  to  prevent 
the  spread  of  these  two  diseases.  The  number  of  deaths  from 
scarlet  fever  and  diphtheria  in  Boston  last  year  was  515,  and 
the  average  for  the  last  five  3'ears  is  695. 

The  Board  thinks  that  this  mortal^  from  two  contagious 
and  preventable  diseases  is  not  creditable  to  our  city,  and  need 
not  occur  if  sufficient  hospital  accommodations  are  furnished 
in  which  to  isolate  the  patients. 

The  Board  has  repeatedly  asked  for  the  hospital  accommoda- 
tions ;  but  as  yet  the  means  for  isolating  those  diseases  have 
not  been  supplied. 

There  is  reason  to  believe  that  the  thorough  sanitary  work 
performed  during  the  year  has  been  a  large  factor  in  reducing 
the  mortality. 

The  Board  of  Health  will  not  only  keep   its   expenses   within 
its  appropriation,  but  hopes  to  provide  from  it  a  portion  of  the 
cost  of   the  new  steamer  for  quarantine. 
Respectfully  submitted, 

For  the  Board  of  Health, 

S.    H.    DURGIN, 

Chairman. 


APPENDIX.  109 


APPENDIX    Q. 


City  Hospital,  Boston, 

December  22,  1885. 

Hon.    Hugh   O'Brien,    Mayor   of   Boston :  — 

Sir,  —  In  the  absence  of  the  president  of  the  trustees, 
Hon.  T.  J.  Dacey,  I  give  on  his  request  a  brief  statement 
of  the  facts  of  the  work  done  in  this  department  during 
the   hospital   year,    May    1,    1885,    to   date. 

The  amount  of  the  annual  appropriation  for  this  fiscal 
year  was  $165,000.  There  was  a  balance  of  trust  funds 
not  used  last  year  of  $1,810.55,  which  gave  us  a  total 
credit  for  the  year  of  $166,810.55.  The  expenditures  so 
far  during  this  year,  including  the  draft  of  January  1,  1886, 
will  amount  to  $121,370.72.  This  expenditure  is  well  within 
the  limits  of  allowance  for  the  nine  months  now  past,  and 
will  show  a  pro  rata  surplus  for  that  period  of  $3,737.19. 
I  estimate  that  the  balance  for  the  remaining  three  months 
will  be  adequate  to  meet  the  expenditures  for  that  period. 
I  do  not  anticipate,  however,  that  there  will  be  any  surplus 
at  the  end  of  the  fiscal  year.  The  average  number  of 
patients  during  these  three  coming  months  is  always  the 
largest  of  the  year ;  our  expenditures  for  subsistence,  fuel, 
light,  and  other  supplies  are  also  larger.  These  demands  upon 
us  will  undoubtedly  consume  the  accrued  surplus ;  but  I  feel 
warranted  in  saying  that  this  department  will  not  call  for 
any  further  appropriation  for  maintaining  the  hospital  during 
the   rest   of   the   fiscal  year. 

In  regard  to  the  amount  of  work  done,  in  the  care  and 
treatment   of   the   sick,   this   year   has    proved   no   exception  to 


110  APPENDIX. 

the  last  three  or  four  years  in  this  respect,  that  the  hos- 
pital each  year  has  a  larger  average  number  of  patients 
treated  than  each  previous  year.  The  number  for  the  year 
1883-4  averaged  sixteen  more  daily  than  1882-3;  the  year 
1884-5  was  tweuty  more  than  in  1883-4 ;  our  daily  average 
for  the  nine  mouths  of  this  year  has  been  twenty-one  more 
than   last   year,    or   forty-one   more   than   two   years    ago. 

The  class  of  cases  treated  is  each  year  more  closely 
restricted  to  the  more  acute  and  severe  cases,  the  move- 
ment of  the  ward  population  is  more  rapid,  and  the  hos- 
pital serves  more  closely  its  real  purpose  in  giving  its 
benefits    to  the    greatest   number   of   people. 

The  event  of  the  hospital  year  has  been  the  completion 
and  occupation  of  the  new  dormitory  for  nurses.  The  build- 
ing now  accommodates  69  nurses,  and  has  been  in  use 
long  enough  to  prove  its  utility,  and  to  demonstrate  the 
desirability  in  placing  the  nursing  force  in  apartments  outside 
the  wards.  The  health  of  the  nurses  has  been  improved,  and 
the  hospital  is  benefited  by  receiving  not  only  more  constant 
but  a  better  quality  of  labor. 

The  rooms  vacated  by  nurses  are  nearly  all  devoted  to 
the  use  of  patients.  Our  accommodations  have  been  increased 
by  48  beds ;  not  only  can  we  accommodate  this  increased 
number,  but  we  can  do  our  work  better  and  more  humanely. 
It  particularly  enables  us  to  place  in  isolating  rooms  patients 
who  are  dangerously  ill,  delirious,  or  dying,  who  formerly 
were  treated  in  the  open  wards.  Our  accommodations  for 
contagious  diseases  are  likewise  increased  by  20  beds,  and 
so  far  this  year  we  have  rejected  no  applicant  with  contagious 
disease   for   want   of   room. 

Much   work   has   been   done   during   this   year   in    the  way  of 


APPENDIX.  Ill 

renovating  and  general  repairs.  The  amount  of  wear  and 
tear  in  a  building  occupied  by  five  and  six  hundred  people 
of  the  class  we  receive  here  is  always  very  great.  A  more 
frequent  renovating  is  required  here  than  in  ordinary  public 
buildings,  because  our  wards  and  rooms  are  sooner  polluted, 
and  the  very  object  of  the  hospital  is  the  restoration  to  health. 
Again,  we  cannot  safety  treat  the  sick  except  by  classifica- 
tion and  separation.  This  involves  a  large  number  of  build- 
ings, which  are  more  expensive  to  maintain  and  repair  than 
if   the   patients   were   aggregated   in   one   structure. 

Several  of  the  wards  have  been  vacated  in  turn,  and 
thoroughly    cleansed    and   renovated. 

As  a  whole  our  buildings  are  probably  in  a  better  condi- 
tion of  repair  than  at  any  time  in  the  history  of  the 
hospital. 

One  of  our  greatest  needs  is  the  enlargement  of  our  build- 
ing where  out-patients  are  treated.  This  has  long  been  an 
urgent  want,  and  allusion  has  been  made  to  it  in  the  last 
seven  consecutive  annual  reports.  Twice  a  special  appropria- 
tion has  been  asked  of  the  City  Government,  and  both  times 
refused. 

Last  year  47,000  visits  were  made  to  these  various  depart- 
ments by  out-patients.  On  nearly  all  days  the  rooms  are 
crowded ;  the  physicians  and  surgeons  are  illy  accommodated, 
and  have  not  sufficient  room  in  which  to  properly  do  their 
work.  In  many  instances  patients  have  gone  away  untreated,  — 
in  some  instances  going  voluntarily,  and  in  others  sent  away 
by   the  staff. 

The  apartments  have  no  ventilation,  and  the  rooms  soon 
become  foul,  and  in  certain  conditions  of  weather  are  intoler- 
able.     Several   departments,  for  want  of    space,  are    compelled 


112  APPENDIX. 

to    use    the    same  room,  —  in   some    instances   contracted    and 

encumbered   with   necessary  apparatus    for   treatment, — on   the 

same  day,  at  different   hours.      This   delays   and   obstructs    the 
work. 

The  building  should  be  twice  its  present  size,  rearranged 
and  reconstructed.  Our  want  is  more  apparent  since  the 
Massachusetts  General  Hospital,  the  Boston  Dispensary,  and 
other  out-patient  departments  possess  new  and  commodious 
rooms.  An  expenditure  in  this  direction  need  not  be  large. 
The  benefits  rendered  to  the  poor  of  the  city  would  be  great 
in  comparison,  and  it  would  be  sound  economy,  as  many  cases 
could  be  treated  at  a  nominal  expense,  which  now,  by  reason 
of  this  want,  require  admission  to  the  hospital.  The  trustees 
and  the  staff  are  unanimous  in  their  views  upon  this  sub- 
ject, and  the  trustees  request  me  to  urge  of  Your  Honor  a 
careful   consideration   of    this   our   special   need. 

Our  stable  is  in  a  dilapidated  condition,  and  the  poorest 
amongst  all  the  departments  of  the  city.  A  new  structure  is 
much   needed. 

The  work  of  the  present  year  has  been  free  from  any 
unusual  accident,  friction,  or  calamity.  The  hospital,  in  its 
various  departments  and  services,  is  in  efficient  condition,  and  is 
doing  an  excellent  work  in  the  purposes  for  which  it  was 
founded. 

I   have  the  honor  to  be 

Your  obedient   servant, 

G.  H.  M.  KOWE,  M.D., 

Superintendent  and  Resident  Physician. 


APPENDIX.  113 


APPENDIX    R. 


Office  of  the  Lamp  Department, 

Boston,    December   26,    1885. 

To   His   Honor   Hugh   O'Brien, 

Mayor  of  the    City   of  Boston :  — 

In  accordance  with  your  request  I  have  the  honor  to  transmit 
for  your  consideration  a  statement  of  the  financial  condition  of 
this  department  and  its  expenditures  during  the  present  municipal 
year,  and  also  an  account  of  the  amount  and  character  of  the 
work   which    has   been   performed   to   date :  — 

The  balance  of  appropriation   from  1884  on  hand 

Jan.    1,    1885,    was $164,951  30 

Expended  during   the   remainder  of   financial   year 

1884   and   1885 $145,953  28 

Balance     unexpended     and     transferred     to    other 

appropriations     .......      $18,998  02 

Appropriation   for  financial  year  ending  April  30, 

1886,  was $500,000  00 

Amount  expended  to  date  .....  $351,125  79 
Balance   unexpended       ......    $148,874  21 

An  amount  sufficient  to  meet  all  anticipated  expenditures 
of  the  department  during  the  remainder  of  the  present  financial 
year. 

The  cost  of  gas  for  street-lighting  during  the  year 

ending   Dec.    15,    1884,    was       ...         .    $255,463  30 


114 


APPENDIX. 


The  cost  of  gas  for  street-lighting  during  the  year 

ending  Dec.  15,  1885,  was  ....  $255,059  59 
Decrease   during   present   year        ....  $403  71 

Cost    of    oil    for    street-lighting    during    the    year 

ending  Dec.  15,  1884,  was  ....  $5,566  83 
Cost    of    oil    for    street-lighting    during    the   year 

ending  Dec.  15,  1885,  was  ....  $5,141  63 
Decrease   during    present   year        ....  $425  20 

Cost  of  electric  lighting  during  year  ending  Dec.  15, 

1884,  was $90,785  80 

Cost  of  electric  lighting  during  year  ending  Dec.  15, 

1885,  was $99,523  28 

Increase    during   present   year         .  .         .  .        $8,737  48 

Cost   of   lighting    and   care   of  street-lights  during 

year  ending  Dec.  15,  1884,  was  .  .  .  $102,390  84 
Cost   of  lighting  and   care   of   street-lights   during 

year  ending  Dec.  15,  1885,  was  .  .  .  $103,074  32 
Increase   during   present   year         ....  $683  48 

Total    expenditure    for   all    purposes   during    year 

ending   Dec.    15,    1884 $491,653  16 

Total    expenditures    for   all   purposes   during  year 

ending   Dec.    15,    1885 $497,080  22 

Increase   during   present   year        ....        $5,427  06 


The     number     of     lamps     in     the     city     on    Jan.     1,  1885, 
was,    viz.  :  — 

Gas 9,781 

Oil ' 2,591 

Large    gas   lamps           .......  36 

Electric   lights 401 

Total   number   Jan.    1,    1885           ....  12,809 


APPENDIX. 


115 


The    number    of     lamps    in     the    city  January    1,    1886,     is, 
viz.  :  — 


Gas    . 

..... 

9,978 

Oil     . 

. 

2,630 

Large   gas   lamps 

. 

63 

Electric    lights    . 

•                   ••••• 

January    1,    1886 

443 

Total   number, 

13,114 

The    increase    during   the   year   was :  — 

Gas    . 

•                    ••••• 

197 

Oil     . 

. 

39 

Large   gas   lamps 

. 

27 

Electric   lights    . 



42 

Total   increase 

during   year    1885 

305 

The    number    of 

new    lights    added    during    the    year   1885, 

was,    viz.  :  — 

Gas    . 

«•«••. 

215 

Oil     • 

. 

85 

Large   gas   lamps 

. 

28 

Electric   lights    . 

•                  ••••• 

43 

Total   number 

added   during    1885 

371 

a 

"              1884      . 

186 

Increase    over 

last   year      .... 

185 

During  the  year  80  lights  have  been  discontinued,  from 
various  causes,  principally  the  introduction  of  electric  lights, 
and  a  large  number  of  oil  lamps  in  the  outlying  districts 
have   been   changed   to   gas. 

The    petitions    for    lights   of    all    kinds,    during    the    present 


116  APPENDIX. 

year  have  been  unusually  numerous,  and  persistently  urged, 
and  in  response  to  the  public  demand  the  number  of  lamps 
has  been  been  largely  increased,  although  the  appropriation 
remains  the  same  as  it  has  been  for  three  years,  viz., 
$500,000. 

Should  the  same  amount  of  work  be  done  next  year,  and 
should  a  liberal  spirit  be  shown  in  regard  to  electric  light- 
ing, it  will  be  necessary,  in  order  to  provide  for  the  in- 
creased expenditures,  that  the  appropriation  for  this  depart- 
ment  should   be   increased   to    at   least   $550,000. 

Respectfully   submitted, 

HUGH   J.    TOLAND, 

Superintendent   of  Lamps. 


appendix   s. 


Department   of  Common   and    Squares,    City   Hall, 

Boston,    December   28,    1885. 
To  His   Honor  Mayor  O'Brien  :  — 

Dear  Sir,  —  In  obedience  to  your  request  I  beg  to  submit 
for  your  consideration  a  synopsis  of  the  condition  of  the  De- 
partment of  Common  and  Public  Grounds  at  the  present  time, 
together  with  its  principal  wants  and  requirements  for  the 
ensuing   year. 

The  improvements  that  have  been  made  during  the  past 
vear  on  the  Common,  Public  Garden,  Commonwealth  avenue, 
Blackstone  and  Franklin  squares,  East  and  West  Chester 
park,    etc.,    are    so    well    known    and    so   fully    appreciated   by 


APPENDIX.  117 

the  public  that  I  deem  it  unnecessary  to  enlarge  upon  their 
improved  condition. 

For  years  past  the  development  of  the  department  has  been 
circumscribed,  and  to  a  degree  crippled,  for  want  of  suit- 
able quarters  for  its  natural  growth.  During  a  long  period 
we  have  been  compelled  to  pay  for  the  temporary  use  of 
greenhouses  from  twelve  to  fourteen  hundred  (Si, 200  to 
$1,400)  dollars  per  year,  and  for  the  partial  storage  of  settees, 
tools,  etc.,  seven  hundred  and  twenty  ($720)  dollars  per 
3'ear,  besides  being  obliged  to  mar  one  of  the  most  sightly 
and  interesting  portions  of  the  Common  by  the  storage  of 
hundreds  of  thousands  of  plants,  that  are  indispensable  for 
the   ornamentation    of   the    public   grounds. 

As  a  relief  from  this  dilemma,  and  as  an  illustration  of 
their  wisdom,  the  City  Government  voted  us  2f  acres  of  land, 
known  as  the  Roxbury  Canal  land ;  and  also  twenty-five 
hundred  ($2,500)  dollars  for  its  improvement.  With  this 
amount  I  have  built  a  substantial  and  ample  storehouse, 
246'  X  30',  for  the  sum  of  fourteen  hundred  and  forty-one 
and  T5^°Q-  ($l,441T5TJ°a)  dollars;  and  have  also  surrounded  the 
whole  area  with  a  matched-board  pine  fence  1,496  feet  long 
by  8  feet  high,  for  nine  hundred  and  twenty  ($920)  dollars. 
Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  the  rent  of  a  partial  storage  for 
two  years  covered  the  cost  of  the  new  building.  It  may 
also  prove  of  interest  to  state  that  the  highest  estimate  for 
the  work  of  the  building  and  fence  was  forty-nine  hundred 
and  twenty-one  ($4,921)  dollars,  —  a  difference  of  twenty-five 
hundred  and  fifty-nine  and  ■J^  ($2,559T500^)  dollars  between 
the   highest    and   lowest   bids. 

The  extra  requirements  of  the  department  for  the  ensuing 
year   will   be   the   erection   of    suitable    but   inexpensive   green- 


118  APPENDIX. 

houses  and  frames  upon  the  newly  acquired  land ;  the  imme- 
diate removal  in  the  early  spring  of  all  the  unsightly 
encumbrances  from  the  Deer  park  on  the  Common,  and  its 
speedy  transformation  into  a  grassy  sward ;  the  renovation 
of  the  five  lower  sections  of  Commonwealth  avenue,  between 
West  Chester  park  and  Dartmouth  street,  in  the  same  manner 
as  we  improved  East  and  West  Chester  park.  A  similar 
treatment  should  be  given  to  all  the  parks  in  East  Boston, 
to   enable   them   to   grow   healthy   trees   or   grass. 

The  iron  fence  surrounding  Independence  square  has  been 
in  a  dilapidated  condition  for  years,  and  should  be  either 
removed   or   put   in    proper   repair. 

The  shade-trees  upon  our  public  streets,  which  have  been 
neglected  for  the  past  four  years  for  want  of  funds,  should 
receive  immediate  attention,  and  a  liberal  appropriation  should 
be  made  next  year  to  place  them  in  a  condition  satisfactory 
to   real-estate    owners    and   the    tax-payers   in   general. 

I  beg  to  call  particular  attention  to  the  necessity  of  em- 
ploying a  Special  Police  force  for  the  protection  of  the  prop- 
erty  of   this   department. 

With  these  and  a  few  other  minor  improvements  the  de- 
partment will  be  in  a  healthy,  progressive,  working  condition, 
and  must  prove  to  the  citizens  of  Boston  a  source  of  pleasure 
and  delight. 

I   remain,   your   obedient  servant, 

WM.    DOOGUE, 

Superintendent. 


u\ 


P73.9 
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55887 

O'brien,    Hugh 
Inaugural  Address 


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